Ronan O’Gara hails Jordie Barrett’s ‘classy gesture’ while Ireland legend answers key Jacques Nienaber question

La Rochelle head coach Ronan O'Gara and Leinster back Jordie Barrett.
La Rochelle head coach Ronan O’Gara has praised Jordie Barrett for his gesture following their Investec Champions Cup clash against Leinster on Sunday.
The All Blacks star started at full-back for the Irish province at Stade Marcel-Deflandre as the visitors claimed a 16-14 triumph to secure their passage into the knockout stages.
O’Gara’s men also remain well placed to move into the last-16 with them currently in second position in Pool 2.
Jordie Barrett’s gesture
The former Munster fly-half was invariably disappointed by the result but he was left delighted by Barrett’s act after the match had finished as he handed his boots to O’Gara’s son.
“Thank you Jordie Barrett. He will never get to wear size 46 but gone off to bed so happy…a classy gesture…Congratulations to @leinsterrugby .. hopefully we get another go. @staderochelais,” he wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
Thank you Jordie Barrett.He will never get to wear size 46 but gone off to bed so happy…a classy gesture…Congratulations to @leinsterrugby .. hopefully we get another go.@staderochelais pic.twitter.com/kukCNifCCY
— Ronan O Gara (@RonanOGara10) January 12, 2025
O’Gara also spoke to the media in the aftermath of their narrow defeat to Leinster and was asked his opinion on whether they have improved this season, with Jacques Nienaber having longer to work with the team.
“I think they’re definitely harder to play against, but are they better? We’ll see in May,” he responded.
“You look at the final in Dublin (in 2023) and not many Test teams can do what they did in 11 minutes. We didn’t do much wrong and we’re 17-0 down.
“Plus they’ve Dan Sheehan to come back, who I think is one of the world’s best players. Speed kills, and he kills teams on his own.”
La Rochelle, who claimed the Champions Cup title in 2022 and 2023, have endured a mixed season and reside in sixth position in the Top 14.
They have yet to find their fluency in 2024/25 and that was displayed by their reversal at the hands of the Irish province on Sunday.
‘Our boys will do better’
“Congratulations to Leinster, they’re better, but I hope we get another crack off them this season because our boys can do better and will do better,” O’Gara said.
“Some teams that play them might feel that they are beaten already. For us, that wouldn’t be the case.
“We analyse them and go through what the facts are, and they have been scoring less points but they have been giving up less points.
“As a coach, the biggest thing I am disappointed with tonight is the seven points we gave up for the try.
“Maybe they had one or two other attacking moments, but the try is too soft and we don’t deserve to win any game when you give up a try like that. That’s my frustration tonight.”