O'Gara: We have fun but we've high standards

Ronan O'Gara has backed his La Rochelle team to rise to the challenge as they enter the Leinster 'lion’s den’ to defend their Heineken Champions Cup title.

The former Munster and Ireland out-half led his team to a shock victory over tomorrow’s opponents 12 months ago in Marseille, the French Top14 outfit feeding off the energy of a partisan crowd to strike late for a 24-21 win.

The tables are now turned with Leo Cullen’s side at home in Dublin as they bid to win a first title since 2018 and draw level with Toulouse with five tournament wins.

A full house is expected at the Aviva Stadium for tomorrow’s 4.45pm kick-off (live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player).

"That’s the beauty of sport, that's the fascination, on paper it seems fine," said O’Gara when asked about what difference the venue makes.

"We were all told that in the Matmut [Atlantique], the stadium for the Bordeaux where the semi-final was [against Exeter], there would be plenty of La Rochelle fans but sounds good but then you go there and 'oh wow' it's something else.

"And it gives energy and a life to our team, it's going to be opposite tomorrow for our guys.

"Some of our guys are experienced and they will thrive, some guys might shrink a bit. You hope guys like Greg [Alldritt] and Brice [Dulin] will bring them along.

"Leinster are going to have purple patches for sure. It's just how we manage those pressure moments will decide how the game goes.

"Over the 80 minutes there should be enough of an opportunity for us to play rugby, to impose our game, that’s what we’re banking on as opposed to taking the home crowd on full on, you know.

"We going in there tomorrow and we'll either grow or shrink.

"What I've seen from my boys is they love it, they care for each other, they've prepared