The European Champions Cup Quarter Final stage is always a special occasion.
However, when two teams of the highest quality go up against each other it makes it all the better. That is just one aspect that makes this Saturday's showdown between Leinster and La Rochelle such a mouth watering affair.
It truly has become one of the best and most intriguing rivalries in the history of European rugby. On one side you have Leinster's leader Leo Cullen who goes about his business in an unassuming manner. You could say the exact opposite of his adversary Ronan O'Gara who whether intentional or not always makes headlines.
Having such a renowned figure in Irish rugby trying to take down his old rival has truly been a fascinating watch over the last few years.
This Saturday at the Aviva Stadium another chapter will be written in the rivalry and a former teammate of O'Gara in Stephen Ferris has no doubts about the magnitude of the occasion. Ferris sees it quite clear that his old Ireland teammate is up to his old tricks, particularly in garnering support from his affiliates in red. However, he feels Leinster have been building all season for this game and will be primed and ready to go.
It's a really interesting dynamic of how Ronan O'Gara has brought his troops from South Africa to Cork... Yet again I think he's probably playing a few mind games and trying to get all his support down in Munster to rally behind the boys (La Rochelle).
Yeah why not? Y'know they've been on a plane for a hell of a long time over the couple of weeks and their away from home. But their away from home at the Aviva stadium which is gonna be close to a sell out I believe and it's gonna be an unbelievable occasion. Yeah he just needs to make sure that his team are as best prepared as possible to deliver a performance.
La Rochelle have been inconsistent. He's been resting players, he's been mixing and matching his team a little bit. Where Leinster seem to have built really well and brought in all the Irish internationals back in after the Six Nations and after their last performance they look like a team that's gonna be really hard to beat.
Read Here: Ronan O’Gara Says La Rochelle Squad Were Fascinated By One Element Of Cork Night Out
One could ask what might've changed since the final in May of last year? What could finally give Leinster the edge? Ferris believes the same questions of physicality will be asked. However, the addition of consecutive World Cup winning coach Jacques Nienaber could finally put this La Rochelle side to the sword when it matters most.
It's two teams who are gonna go absolutely toe to toe. It's just unfortunate as a fan that this isn't a repeat of the final. How good would that be with everything on the line. But it's not, it's a Quarter Final that's where we are and I just feel it's Leinster's time. With Jacques Nienaber involved now he's a cute, very detailed coach.
Ferris believes it will be another tight and cagey affair. However, he feels that once again the game will be based in the engine room and from a Leinster point of view stopping La Rochelle's big ball carries will be paramount to getting the victory.
It's the same old thing. Can Leinster meet the power of La Rochelle? They did it for parts last year but ultimately they didn't have enough in the tank.
I think its gonna be a tight game but I do see Leinster getting on top and running out victorious. I think they need to give their fans that big win against La Rochelle. There's just so many question marks around the physicality and we talk it about it week in week out. But it's the basics of rugby.
Win the collisions, win the gain line, both with ball in hand and coming up in defence and tackling. If you can win the majority of those collisions that's gonna send you a long way to getting the right result.
This isn't even the first meeting between these sides this season. Leinster got an overdue victory at the Stade Marcel-Deflandre back in December. Although Ferris feels that game was more of a trial run for O'Gara's side for Leinster he thinks that result may pose some huge selections calls.
It was funny watching that game. Feels like years ago and La Rochelle didn't seem that fussed that they lost. It wasn't like they had their head in their hands and it was the end of the world that Leinster had just come over and beaten them.
I think Ronan O'Gara backed his team to get out of the pool and meet Leinster again. Obviously it's a knockout game now wasn't but Leinster can take a lot out of it. They played really well and the weather was absolutely atrocious. I can remember La Rochelle turned down numerous opportunities to take a kick at goal and maybe that came back to haunt them.
A huge spectacle awaits and Ferris grants that it would be a huge victory for Leinster to get the La Rochelle and Ronan O'Gara monkey off their back. However, looking at it from the opposite direction a win for O'Gara would cement his sides supremacy over this Leinster outfit.
They'll want a foothold in the game from the first minute instead of playing catch up and if they can do that they'll absolutely back themselves to win the game.
What message would it send if La Rochelle did beat Leinster? I think everyone's just talking about how much it would mean for Leinster to beat La Rochelle but flip that over if La Rochelle do them again it really is a statement of intent to everyone else in the competition.
It would be a statement that La Rochelle have Leinster's number and another talking point for Ronan O'Gara and his coaching career and how well that's progressed over the last couple of seasons. Like when he's able to beat the so-called bookies favourites year in year out and win trophies.
Both teams have so much to play for, there's so much on the line. Whoever's, behind on the scoreboard their out their gone and they don't have another chance till next season.
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