‘I showed disrespect’ – Ronan O’Gara issues an apology to Toulouse
La Rochelle head coach Ronan O’Gara has backtracked on comments he made following the Top 14 final.
In the French domestic showpiece, O’Gara’s men were 26-22 ahead against Toulouse going into the latter stages, but a brilliant individual try from Romain Ntamack gave Les Rouge et Noir a 22nd league title.
It left La Rochelle desolate, with their head coach describing their opponents as “average” and that “the better team lost” immediately after the match.
O’Gara has since realised the error of his ways and took the time to apologise to Toulouse.
Powerful history
“One or two of my comments were small or disappointing. I don’t know if the people of France listen. I’m sure they do, but I think I showed disrespect by saying that it was an average Toulouse team,” he said on Off The Ball.
“But this is a team that have won five European Cups and have 22 Boucliers. So for anyone that played for them or an ex-player, those comments are disappointing and small on my behalf and I except that now.
“And I think it’s important I say that because if you’re a (Yannick) Jauzion, or a (Thierry) Dusatoir, a Yannick Nynaga, or Trevor Brennan, or Fabien Pelous, that’s their club.
“What I’m trying to do with La Rochelle is trying to enforce a will power that we can match these guys, but at the same time you can’t obviously diss them and diss their history because it’s so powerful.”
No excuses
It was suggested that controversial things could be said in the ‘heat of the moment’ but O’Gara rejected that idea and insisted that it was not an excuse.
The former Ireland international believes that it is his job to be able to convey his thoughts and emotions accurately following a match.
“I think you are thinking clearly, that’s what you have to be able to do. You have to be able to think clearly, but you also have to maybe differentiate a little bit more accurately,” he added.
“I thought the performance of Toulouse on the night was quite average, but that doesn’t make them an average team. If you mix up your words, it can not portray what your inner feelings are.”
READ MORE: Ronan O’Gara angry at losing to ‘average’ Toulouse side in Top 14 final
