At the end of the final lost on Saturday in extremis by La Rochelle against Toulouse, the manager of the Maritimes, Ronan O’Gara, sharply criticized the Rouge et Noir. “It’s difficult now because we’re going to see the great Stade Toulousain which will explain rugby to everyone”, he had notably dropped in the passageways of the Stade de France. Adding: “They were an average team in front of us who took advantage of our mistakes. Stop saying it’s a huge Stade Toulousain, I don’t agree with that! We can accept a defeat if they scored four good tries, but we didn’t see them. Maybe it’s OK to say the best team lost…”
Biting remarks, not fair play and even less classy, which the Irish technician regrets. Guest of the Off The Ball podcast, the La Rochelle manager returned to his slippage, making his mea culpa. “I was disrespectful saying it was an average team from Toulouse. For anyone who has played for Toulouse or will play there in the future, those comments were small and disappointing on my part and I accept that. It’s important that I say it,” he said.
Recalling the record of the Toulouse club (22 Brennus, 5 Champions Cup), the former opener of the XV of Clover concedes: “You cannot destroy the history of this club, because it is very powerful.” And to conclude: “I think I could have and should have thought clearly or at least been more precise in my remarks. I thought Toulouse’s performance in the final was average, but that doesn’t make them an average team.”
The spirits, before this final, had heated with his counterpart Ugo Mola, but the Irishman had recognized that his team, double European champion in title, was favorite. After the final, the assistant coach of the Toulouse backs, Clément Poitrenaud, wanted to put things right: “It’s not enough to say it in the microphones, you have to assume it on the field. During the week, a lot of stuff was said and I’m very happy that the players responded. We used those statements. When they are announced losers, it is difficult to live for these great competitors that are our players… ”