Leinster need to find the answer to hefty challenge of Ronan O’Gara’s big men

R onan O’Gara is one of the few people I’m still in touch with from the 2009 British & Irish Lions tour. I got on well with him and I really enjoy chatting to him about his rugby philosophy and how he sees the game. I remember seeing him the day before La Rochelle beat Leinster in last season’s final and it’s easy to say in hindsight but there was a real confidence in him about what his team can achieve. I suspect it’ll be similar this season too.

I’ve chatted to him sporadically over the last couple of years and I’ve been blown away by his aspirations, what he demands of himself and the things he thinks he can go on to do. I’m not surprised because I think he’s capable but it’s just the clarity and the confidence that he has. When you are the head coach or the leader and you have confidence, which isn’t manufactured but inherently how you feel, then it is so much easier to pass that message on and for it to filter down to your squad.

He’s a highly impressive human being and a coach who will no doubt operate at this level for a long time. He’s one of very few people who have travelled the world by coaching at Racing 92, the Crusaders, spending some time in Fiji and then heading to La Rochelle. He gathered information and brought it back and made it a real success. Maybe it’s a lesson for other coaches.

It wasn’t a well trodden path, it’s not like there was a blueprint that he was following, he just went and did it himself but that has always been his attitude. He just goes and gets things done. He’s been in some incredibly high-performing teams and immersed himself in the rugby and the culture. That is important because modern coaches are really good at understanding people. Every rugby player has a talent but it is