Alldritt: If we have any respect for Ronan we have to do the job against Munster
La Rochelle's Gregory Alldritt Photo by XAVIER LEOTY/AFP via Getty Images
La Rochelle will leave everything out on the pitch in the Champions Cup round-of-16 match against Munster, the Top 14 side’s captain Gregory Alldritt has promised head coach Ronan O’Gara.
“Ronan has given us so much, he does everything for this team and for this club,” a suffer-no-fools Alldritt said at the Friday press conference before Saturday’s match at Stade Marcel Deflandre.
“If we have any respect for him, we have to do the job against Munster – or at least leave it all out on the pitch.”
He called on the out-of-form side’s suffering fans to do their bit from the sidelines. “It’s going to be quite a challenge for the stands,” he admitted. “They haven’t had much to cheer about or much to enjoy in recent matches. They will have to raise their game on Saturday. It will be a big challenge.
“We’re going to try to put the spark back on the pitch and I hope a blaze catches.”
La Rochelle are desperately seeking a turnaround after a run of eight matches without a win. But Alldritt insisted the situation, “can switch – as we’ve been saying for weeks”.
“We can’t erase the context we’re in – we know where we are,” he said. “To think that suddenly, things are going to work out by themselves when you change competitions, is false.
“We’re going to have to step up our efforts because the Champions Cup is even more physically demanding.
“The message is to prepare to be the best on the field on Saturday. Being a leader and making speeches during the week is useless. The best way to help the team is to be the best on Saturday.”
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