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Published 17:15 30 Dec 2023 GMT
Updated 17:15 30 Dec 2023 GMT
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Ronan O'Gara in tears during 'Back to Back. (Credit: Stade Rochelais)[/caption]
"The truth was for me at 17-0, I was preparing a speech just to save our pride. I said to myself, 'It will be hard going back to La Rochelle tonight after this'. We were not far from getting the biggest spanking in a Champions Cup final."We then get to see and hear some of that half-time rallying call from the former Munster and Ireland star. Simply put, he is trying to get across to his men that Leinster are levelling off. If they can keep their discipline and stay in the fight, he insists, the game is not over yet.
"They've given all their energy. We're calm but were not going go give them presents. I want discipline, okay? This is the moment to look your teammate in the eye and f***ing encourage him."Antoine Halstoy scored two second half penalties, either side of a response from Ross Byrne, but Leinster were starting to flag badly. They were defending heroically but could barely muster up four or five phases of attack to counter the La Rochelle pressure. That pressure told, though, when prop Georges-Henri Colombe powered over to, when Halstoy converted, give La Rochelle a 27-26 lead. Leinster came close to snatching victory, themselves, but a late Michael Ala'alatoa red card ended their hopes. The French side had retained their trophy. The doc flashes back to a visibly emotional Ronan O'Gara as he reflected on the greatest achievement of his impressive coaching career.
"I'll never forget it," he declares. "Years from now, that day will… It will stay with me, all my life."You can watch that full documentary here, and La Rochelle have told us a version with English subtitles will be coming in January 2024.
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