Ronan O'Gara says he never stopped believeing in his players during their nailbiting Heineken Champions Cup final win against Leinster in Marseille.
The French side came from 18-10 down against the four-time champions, to deservingly score a 79th minute try through Arthur Retiere to win the game.
It looked like La Rochelle would be left to rue a dreadful disciplinary performance, with all 21 of Leinster's points coming from penalties.
However, they played all the rugby, scoring three tries to Leinster's one, the last of which sealed their first ever major trophy.
"I think we caused them a little bit of problems in the first-half yet we didn't probably get the reward," O'Gara said of their indiscipline.
"We were inaccurate around our understanding what he (referee, Wayne Barnes) wanted with tackle and get out. We got penalised and we gave them easy entries into our half of the pitch.
"Then a five metre scrum, a decision against us that our loosehead took it down and then they went the length of the pitch as classy teams do, and they came away with three points, but that could have been seven. That could have been a big moment.
"There were one or two boys sulking at half-time at 12-7 but I said to them that before the game if we could sign a 12-7 I’d sign it, because we knew that we’re a second-half team. The data says that and as a coach you have to get into that even though I prefer the human side of the game, but we knew that Leinster’s last 20 is where we can get them.
"We talk about fine margins and then I’m just trying to explain why the boys were so mentally strong in the last few minutes because you go off your feet at any of those 150 pick and goes it’s a penalty against us. That’s the Cup gone and then we’re a team of bottlers. Three finals and we can’t get over the line.
"What pleases me the most is I’m very proud of them. I’m very proud of their mental resolve and it’s a great starting point for the club."
Leinster were 12 point favourites coming into the game, having ripped through every team they'd played to date.
And although very few people thought they could pull off a repeat of their 2021 win against Leinster, O'Gara said he never lost belief, adding that their defeats to Toulouse in both last year's Champions Cup and Top14 deciders have taught them how to win.
"You lose two finals and it’s a desperate place, so my first reaction would be I understand how Leo (Cullen), Stuart (Lancaster), Felipe (Contepomi), Robin (McBryde) and Denis (Leamy) feel.
"It’s a horrible, horrible position to be in because the only time we led the game was in the 80th minute, and they didn’t even get the chance to kick-off which is a kick in the balls.
"When you become a coach it’s lonely, it’s quite isolated, and that’s the ruthless side of the Champions Cup final. You’d have to spare a thought for those guys and their players tonight.
"Our mindset was great. For people who don’t believe you learn things in (losing) finals we have ample proof that it does happen, it does work. We learned from our mistakes but as Greg (Alldritt) said, and he has been brilliant all week in how he laid the players to believe that this is going to happen.
"Without I hope any semblance of arrogance, we genuinely believed that we would win today and otherwise what happened throughout the game there was ample opportunities to jump ship - 18-10, yellow card. But teams with bottle, belief, a vision, find a way to win and the boys deserve immense credit for staying on task.
