La Rochelle: European champions developing Irish accent

It never rains but it pours, even in the South of France. When your hopes of reaching the Heineken Champions Cup knockouts are hanging by a thread, the last place you'd want to visit is the home of the defending champions.

That is the challenge facing Ulster on Saturday when they run out at Stade Marcel Deflandre to take on a La Rochelle side that has plenty of familiar faces both in the coaching box and on the pitch.

Even the conditions will have a homely feel for Dan McFarland’s side, with wind and rain forecast for their rematch with Les Maritimes, who were 36-29 winners when the teams met at the Aviva Stadium four weeks ago.

Ronan O’Gara’s influence does not yet extend to the weather but the former Ireland out-half has certainly helped develop a winning culture at La Rochelle.

O’Gara has made a huge impact since taking over as head coach in 2019. They reached both the Champions Cup and Top 14 finals for the first time in 2021, losing to Toulouse on each occasion. Then, in his first season as director of rugby, he led the club to their first major trophy as they stunned Leinster in last May’s Champions Cup decider.

Following a brief flirtation with England, the 45-year-old signed a contract extension with the European champions last month which will keep him at the club until 2027.

Sitting beside the Corkman in the coaching box is Tipperary’s Donnacha Ryan, who played alongside O’Gara with Munster and Ireland and was coached by him at Racing 92.

Ryan declined offers to extend his playing career and instead joined O’Gara’s backroom team as forwards coach, and last summer they were joined by Ultan Dillane, who was willing to put his Ireland ambitions on hold and try his luck in the country of his birth.

Dillane comes into La