Ronan O'Gara was left distraught by La Rochelle's Champions Cup elimination, at the hands of Munster, but had no issues in admitting 'the better team won'.
Munster progressed to the quarter finals of the competition with a fraught, frantic 25-24 win over a La Rochelle side that won the cup as recently as May 2023. O'Gara has deep connections with both clubs but is left searching for answers after another defeat left La Rochelle with one trophy to chase, and major ground to make up.
"It was brilliant," O'Gara told reporters, of the party atmosphere that enveloped La Rochelle, all weekend. When I was here I tried to bring so much of what's good about Munster to La Rochelle.
I knew that the two supporters would get on like a house on fire, that they'd have a great day. The Munster supporters are proud, the La Rochelle supporters are very proud, they've very decent, they know their rugby, same as Munster people."
There was a touching moment at Stade Marcel Deflandre, in the build-up to the match, as an image was displayed of the late Kerry GAA legend, Mick O'Dwyer, on the day of his funeral, back in Waterville.
The PA announcer paid tribute to 'Micko' and a minutes' applause then broke out, with fans in red and yellow all applauding the Kingdom great.
Following the match, Ronan O'Gara spoke of the tribute, and what Mick O'Dwyer meant to Irish people.
He also revealed who had planted the tribute idea in his head, before the game.
SEE ALSO: La Rochelle vs. Munster: All The Big Moments, Talking Points And Full Player Ratings
Ronan O'Gara on Mick Galwey
The weekend of La Rochelle vs. Munster saw many legends from the Irish province descend on the West of France for the big match.
Simon Zebo was on commentary duty for Premier Sports, Barry Murphy had a similar gig for Live 95 FM, while Donncha O'Callaghan was there in a retro Munster jersey, purely as a fan, once the game kicked off.
Then there was Mick Galwey, who was living his best life. 'Gaillimh' played GAA for Kerry in the 1980s then became a Munster Rugby icon in the 1990s and 2000s. Before the game, he was up on a cherry-picker, belting out Zombie with the Munster fans. Afterwards, he was spotted cadging a lift from O'Callaghan as he cycled around the port of La Rochelle.
O'Gara told reporters, after Munster's win over La Rochelle, that Galwey proposed the idea of a tribute to Mick O'Dwyer, his old Kerry coach. "I thought it would be good for the Munster people to see that," said O'Gara.
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.
A lot of good Munster people are from a GAA background. I met Gaillimh this morning, and Gaillimh planted the idea with me so he still works his magic wherever he goes."
It was great to see O'Gara, a proud Corkman, taking the advice from Kerry's own Mick Galwey on-board.
The tribute was rapturously received, and it will have meant a lot to O'Dwyer's family.
