Ronan O'Gara saw his La Rochelle team get off to a winning start in the Top 14 last weekend, though he himself was involved in a tetchy altercation on the sideline midway through the second half.
The opening weekend threw up a challenging task for O'Gara's side, with Toulon making the trip to La Rochelle.
The hosts ultimately held out for a nervy victory, with Toulon pressing hard to close down the five-point margin towards the game's conclusion. Tries from Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Dillyn Leyds, and Georges-Henri Colombe would see La Rochelle over the line to claim their first win of the season.
However, the main flashpoint of the game for head coach O'Gara saw the Corkman square up to Toulon wing Gabin Villiere with 15 minutes remaining at the Stade Marcel-Deflandre.
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Toulon wing suggests Ronan O'Gara instigated touchline square-up
With 65 minutes played, Toulon wing Gabin Villiere ran the ball out of defence before kicking ahead. He would attempt to block the return kick, which eventually found touch in the Toulon 22.
The wide angle showed Villiere falling into touch himself, with a figure approaching him from the La Rochelle bench.
Replays then showed Villiere squaring up to La Rochelle head coach Ronan O'Gara, before O'Gara pushed the Frenchman away.
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O’Gara and Villiere altercation
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Speaking to Canal+ after the game, Villiere suggested that he had rushed at O'Gara after the Corkman had heckled at him. Villiere said, "I heard a couple of names called by Ronan O'Gara but nothing too bad, it passed."
O'Gara has been in hot water previously with French rugby officials, with the ex-Munster man's unusual habit of standing on the touchline leading to more than one altercation akin to this in the past.
Despite his side getting off the mark with an opening weekend win, O'Gara was not fully satisfied with La Rochelle's performance against Toulon. Speaking after the game, the head coach said,
Plenty of positives…but also a lot of frustration. In the medium and long term, I think this match will benefit us. We were very good at seeing space, but we weren't able to score.
This Sunday sees a mouthwatering clash against the French and European champions Toulouse, with La Rochelle on the road for the first time this season. O'Gara will be hoping his side can finally go all the way in the Top 14, having lost in the final in both 2021 and 2023, and losing out to Sunday's opposition in last year's semi-finals.
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