La Rochelle visitors seeing new sides to Rog on home ground

Flying straight to Ireland from their Round of 16 victory over the Stormers, in Cape Town last Saturday, ticked many boxes on a practical level.

The former Munster and Ireland lock yesterday pointed out the benefits of gaining an extra day’s recovery after their long-haul flight from South Africa via Johannesburg and Paris.

It also allows O’Gara’s squad to spend some valuable bonding time together for the first time since October’s World Cup.

Being in O’Gara’s hometown allows players and staff to put their leader into some sort of perspective, a privilege brought into sharp focus for the assistant coaches by a chance meeting in a restaurant on Tuesday night.

“We met the mayor,” Ryan said. “We went out for a meal with the staff, it was great. The mayor just happened to be in with the French ambassador in the restaurant.

“He came up, said hello, and informed all the boys that [O’Gara] was given the Freedom of Cork (in 2017) and what a big accolade it is.”

O’Gara’s standing in his hometown has been evident since they landed, according to Ryan.

From the airport to training at the boss’s home club Cork Constitution, it has been plain to witness.

“Jeez, the first thing when we came into the airport, it was incredible. When we were going through security, the lads didn’t have to hand their passports into the two boys at the desk. The French boys were kinda shocked by that level of familiarity.

“We get a lot of Irish people that come over to our games as well, and the boys are very receptive to that. They really appreciate that. That’s what it’s all about.

“We got to train in Temple Hill yesterday. There were a lot of old coaches up there: Donal Lenihan was up there, Brian Hickey and the rest. So, obviously we get to share a few stories with them and introduce them to the players and staff from La Rochelle.

“It does give a bit of colour to the person, who you are and where you’ve been brought up and played. I think that can only strengthen bonds between guys and it’s a big part of what we drive, or what [O’Gara] drives.

“When you get to know where a guy grew up, you get to know him a lot more too.

“It’s great to see the boys, they love seeing [O’Gara] in his home environment as well.

“Up in Temple Hill, it was great meeting old coaches, but I lived in Cork for 10 years and the people are just so sound.”

“The boys have been made to feel welcome here and looking for any stories that are going round, so they can just knock a bit of craic out of us.

“Most people are disappointed with the [Northampton Saints vs Munster] result last weekend. It was a tough one for them, but at the same time this week it’s been great.

“We’ve had a lot of people offering any bit of help we may need.

“That’s what rugby is all about and it’s great.

“We’ve been made to feel really welcome here.”

The cultural crash course has fallen short of some first-hand exposure to Gaelic Games, however.

“Yeah, I was trying to get some of the boys over here before,” Ryan said.

“Erin’s Own were playing last night. I was planning on bringing a few lads to the Erins Own game but, unfortunately, we had to start late yesterday because the lads were still tired from the trip. We had to push everything back a bit.

“We went out last night with the staff to a place with Irish music, it was fantastic. Some of the guys are going to dig a few holes on the golf course today and maybe go around town and meet up with a few of the Munster boys they played against.

“That’s the plan, but we have to draw a bit of a line. It’s great to show lads around the place but, at the same time, we still have to recover from the match at the weekend. That was a very physical game and it’s a big challenge for us at the weekend and we have to prepare for that, too.”