Munster v Leinster reaction:RONAN O'GARA has garnered widespread admiration for the clarity of thought he expresses in interviews. Bluntness and a charismatic use of language, he always provides an insight into the mindset of a professional rugby player, something that is increasingly rare in a time when so many simply spit out the usual clichés to a ravenous media.
O’Gara always sounds like he is speaking from the heart. When he walked into the press conference under the Hogan Stand on Saturday night, bruised after a fractious battle, the chillingly clinical and one-sided defeat that stripped Munster of their European crown and the fact it was the team they held the Indian sign over for so long, we expected an excruciating address from the Irish, and potentially Lions Test, outhalf.
“No complaints. The better team won so credit to Leinster. Sometimes you have to be real to yourself and they were the better side in all aspects so they deserved to win. Take your beating and move on.”
The match was long billed as a shoot-out between Contepomi and O’Gara. This being their final duel before the Argentinian sees out the remainder of his career at cash-rich Toulon.
It all started with Contepomi bulldozing through his lighter opposite number before the usual chaperon, David Wallace, could intercede. The good doctor landed a drop goal before O’Gara could make any notable statement of intent.
Then, on 25 minutes, Contepomi’s knee buckled, and he was replaced by the man now in the driving seat to eventually succeed O’Gara on the international stage. Jonathan Sexton showed up well but this match was, oddly, not dictated by the outhalves.
The game took on a unique personality that in one swipe provided light at the end of the tunnel for the much-maligned Leinster. In contrast, it was a dark day for Munster.
“Maybe two or three errors per individual,” continued O’Gara, “multiply that and it gives maybe 20 unforced errors. A lot of turnovers. It’s a lot of possession wasted and makes it very difficult. Yeah, we didn’t play. It was very disappointing.”
For all his candour, providing a detailed reason for their drastic drop in standards, much like the collapse at home to Ulster earlier in the season, O’Gara had no real answer.
“I wish I could give you an explanation. You try and change the momentum of the game but I have huge loyalty, trust, belief in the men in red. We got beaten today. We have to take this now because today was a big day. You can make excuses. Next week the result might be different but this was the result that mattered.
“They were the team that won the 50-50s. They were better at the breakdown and they got a lead and defended really well. That’s my view on things at the minute.”
Munster for so long used the holy grail mantra and pain of past defeats to motivate themselves. Leinster held all the aces in this regard on Saturday evening.
“I don’t think hunger was an issue,” O’Gara contested. “We have quality people, quality rugby players, quality coaching staff. Our ambition is huge. Our belief won’t waver just because of today’s result. I think we are playing great rugby. I think we have evolved. We didn’t show that today.
“Teams like Manchester United have off days. Leinster were the better team and they won. I think we will be back better.”
It’s funny how quickly the sporting landscape changes in 80 minutes. Pencils were being sharpened to castigate Leinster under Michael Cheika but by the early hours of Sunday morning people were looking at the longevity of this Munster team and realised no sporting life is immortal.
The O’Gara autobiography is already penned but it seems like a few chapters are held for the second edition and this one will hurt to remember, especially as his friend, Brian O’Driscoll, proved that he knew him too well.
“I really put the nail in the coffin by throwing the intercept. The game was dead at that stage but it might sound strange for you in here but even with nine minutes to go I still felt that we could win the game and that’s the way we played.
“I don’t question the attitude of anyone on our team. I think the Leinster boys deserve their win. They’ve had their day. Fair play to them but I don’t have any diminished opinion of any of my people.” No excuses. Just a man accepting defeat as a part of life.
“We won’t lose belief. We’ll be back. I’m looking forward to it.”
