Ronan O'Gara: 'How can we play like that in such an important match?'

END OF SEASON: La Rochelle missed out on a top six spot following their defeat to Pau. Pic: ROMAIN PERROCHEAU / AFP

“It’s the end of a cycle,” Ronan O’Gara declared after La Rochelle lost 32-18 at Pau on the final night of the regular Top 14 season to slip out of the top six and miss out on the play-offs for the first time since 2018.

“We need new ideas, new players, new tactics, a complete overhaul, and much more consistency,” O’Gara told journalists in the post-match press conference.

The home side scored three times in the closing 10 minutes to settle what had until then been a nip-tuck encounter at Stade du Hameau.

The lead had changed hands more than once and – on a tense regular season closing night when all seven matches kicked off at the same time – La Rochelle shook all about the table, in and out of the play-off places.

In the end, the shakedown cost them a top six finish. Seventh earns them a Champions Cup place, but that’s scant comfort in the here and now.

Clermont led from start to finish to claim a 23-10 victory at Montpellier and climb from seventh to fifth. La Rochelle, then, knew the equation. They had to continue their winning run at Pau to overhaul Castres. But they were way off the pace when it mattered.

“How can we play like that in such an important match?” O’Gara asked afterwards. “There were some similarities with the team that had just won five in a row, but we were a bit like the team we saw in February, March, and April.

“When we had our backs against the wall, we won five games to give ourselves the chance to play a ‘round-of-16 match’ tonight. I feel like we just thought we’d turn up and do the job, but sport isn’t like that. Pau deserved to win.” 

He accepted the brunt of the blame – his latest touchline ban which was still in force at Hameau. “The players missed their coach. We talk about discipline every week, but where’s the coach? He’s suspended, sitting in the stands, with zero impact.

“I’m the most responsible. I’m frustrated, angry, disappointed, but … the first and only one to blame is me.

“I accept my weaknesses and mistakes, but it’s also important that we do this collectively. I wasn’t expecting [to drop out of the top six], especially like this, but there are a lot of questions.” 

They need prompt answers. Some of the personnel work O’Gara referenced has started already. Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Teddy Thomas and Brice Dulin are among a departing old guard, while Nolan Le Garrec, Davit Niniashvili and Ugo Pacome – all 10 years and more their junior – will arrive during preseason.

An internal staff reshuffle is also on the cards. Club legend Romain Sazy has been repeatedly mentioned, but O’Gara said: “There are people with good ideas [at the club]. They may not be as well known as Romain Sazy – for example, I’ve worked with [academy backs coach] Baptiste Gatuin. Sharing ideas is an opportunity to learn. We’re open to learning every day.” 

That result meant Pau – driven by fast-rising young talents Emilien Gailleton, Theo Attissogbe and Fabien Brau-Boirie – booked a place in next season’s Champions Cup.

In the play-offs Bayonne will host Clermont in the first barrage-round match on Friday night, while Toulon will entertain Castres in the second on Saturday evening. The winners of the first barrage match will face Toulouse at Lyon’s Groupama Stadium on June 20. Bordeaux await the winners of the second at the same venue 24 hours later.

The Basque side maintained their perfect home record this season with an 18-10 win over Toulon to claim a first-ever play-off place.

Vannes’ one-season Top 14 adventure ended in a 59-28 loss at Bordeaux. Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Damian Penaud and Nicolas Depoortere all scored twice for the new Champions Cup holders.

The Bretons’ place will be taken next season by Montauban – who return to the French top flight for the first time since 2010, after a surprise 24-19 victory over strong favourites Grenoble in the ProD2 final.

Grenoble – who have now lost three ProD2 finals in a row will host Perpignan at Stade des Alpes next weekend. The Catalans beat Top 14 leaders Toulouse 42-35 in a thrilling encounter at Stade Aime Giral – but the late win was in vain as Stade Francais’ beat Castres 21-10 in a penalty-ridden encounter at Stade Jean Bouin.

Meanwhile, Lyon’s season petered out with a fifth defeat in a row – they went down 34-47 at home against Racing 92 in a match that had little impact on the table.