Not many could have predicted the firework ending in the Champions Cup round of 16 game between Munster and one of their club legends' new allegiance as manager, La Rochelle yesterday evening.
Away from home in a sunny Stade Marcel Deflandre the matchup was deemed the 'O'Gara derby', the first of its kind, and the only time the player turned coach has faced his old side since his retirement in 2013.
Despite La Rochelle's ninth game without a win, Ronan O'Gara didn't let his professional disappointment at a narrow 24-25 loss get in the way of congratulating his old side, and even made a trip to the visitors dressing room at full-time.
"I'm obviously gutted but I think you've got to compliment and congratulate Munster on how they constructed their victory," O'Gara said, after Jack Crowley had made the difference with a superbly struck 68th-minute drop-goal
The Cork man was a Munster legend, scoring 2,571 points for the province in 236 appearances in 16 seasons before his retirement in the summer of 2013.
During his time in the red jersey and in his 128 caps for Ireland, O'Gara was well known for his drop-goal heroics, so the irony of being beaten at his own game by Munster wasn't lost on him.
"It was pretty ironic how they won it, getting it out to eight points with a peach of a drop-goal. I was thinking 'that little f**ker'.
"I've seen a lot of good drop-goals but that's a top-class one at a moment that just probably takes the decision away from the referee too, with a five-point game, maybe you're thinking okay we're going to have a chance.
"But it was a brilliant kick. (Craig) Casey kicked brilliantly and they took their opportunities, we didn't. You can analyse deeply into it but that's a pretty fast summation of it.
"I was hoping that would turn our season today but we have to go back to the drawing board now and see what can be resurrected."
The Irishman has steered La Rochelle to three of the last four Champions Cup finals, making his personal European title tally four-strong, two for Munster in 2006 and 2008, and two as a coach for the Top 14 side in 2022 and 2023.
The one-point loss to Munster spells the end of their European campaign and all focus is now on the French league, where they sit in fifth, some ten-points adrift of league toppers Stade Toulousain.
"We're in freefall, so for Top 14 it's the same standard, if not better with teams coming," said O'Gara. "The opposition isn't going to get any weaker and we're missing a key ingredient which is belief and confidence but we have to find that quickly.
"I'm gutted for our supporters, for our players, but I think the way the season was going, the real battle is Top 14 now.
"We need to be disappointed for a few days and then get back with a plan to see how we can move up the table."
The Munster faithful may have been in France but the in-stadium tribute to the late Mick O'Dwyer gave a sense of home that touched many.
Lovely touch by La Rochelle , honouring the late Micko @ClubBagnards pic.twitter.com/b1xqe8H9Ba
— Liam Tracey (@GoldStarTel) April 5, 2025
At the suggestion of an Irish rugby legend, and one-time All-Ireland winner with O'Dwyer's native Kerry, Mick Galwey, O'Gara arranged a Micko tribute with not much time to plan.
"I thought it would be good for the Munster people to see that, it's always nice to...he was buried today and I'm sure if I was in Ireland I'd be there or taking a moment out to appreciate everything he's done for Irish sport," O'Gara explained.
"A lot of good Munster people are from a GAA background. I met Gaillimh [Galwey] this morning and Gaillimh planted the idea with me so he still works his magic wherever he goes."
