Ronan O'Gara responds to the "resounding boos" of Leinster fans

La Rochelle head coach Ronan O'Gara has responded to the "resounding boos" he was subjected to during Leinster's 40-13 win over the French side last weekend.

O'Gara was jeered by supporters when he appeared on the big screen at the Aviva Stadium last week during La Rochelle's loss to Leinster in the quarter-final of the Investec Champions Cup.

A legendary Munster figure, O'Gara was no friend of Leinster even before his La Rochelle side twice beat Leo Cullen's side in consecutive Champions Cup finals, both of which involved late heartbreak for fans of the Irish province.

Responding to the jeers on Off The Ball, O'Gara claimed that they were "the ultimate compliment" before aiming a dig at the side his team beat in the 2022 and 2023 Champions Cup finals.

“There wasn’t a couple of boos there were resounding boos but that’s the ultimate compliment,” he said.

“Let’s not get sensitive about this, this is what happens when you’re playing at the top level, coaching a French team against an Irish team, against a team that we have created an enormous amount to hurt in the last number of years. So that’s the minimum.

“It’s ok, that’s what happens. I’m not, sensitive about that. I have a huge amount of time for their players and their coaching group and I was in their dressing room afterwards. They’re a really good group.

“Two into one doesn’t go, you are trying to win, they’re trying to win and they were better than us this time.”

While ROG was in better form on Irish radio this week, his comments to members of the French press raised eyebrows after he slammed his side for a "shameful" performance at the Aviva Stadium.

“I’m still digesting it but it’s getting worse and worse, day by day. I am supported by my deputies, I am completely taken by the defeat. Or rather the way (we lost),” he said.

“This falls into the shameful category. I am very disturbed. It was a dark day for the club and for me. I have to take responsibility for it.

“But it’s not the players, it’s me. They play according to my vision of things. So it’s my fault and it weighs heavily on me. I have to look in the mirror and come back stronger.”

He added: “Great players and leaders cannot miss this opportunity and give away the match two minutes after returning from the locker room, it is not possible. We didn’t respect the jersey.

“I imagined a hundred results when I went jogging on Saturday morning in Dublin but I never thought of a 40-13! Maybe my expectations are too high? When you get eliminated like that as a double European champion, you lose a lot of respect.”

With the prospect of a European hat-trick no more, O'Gara's side must now focus on the Top-14 in France where they are fifth in the table following 10 wins and 10 defeats.

Leinster on the other hand are still fighting on two fronts in the URC and the Champions Cup, as they look to end a six-year European drought and add a fifth star to their jersey.

Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email alerts.