ROG-factor back in play as old foe comes to spoil party

He's back. Again.

Today’s Heineken Champions Cup final stands alone as a fitting climax to the European rugby season but also doubles up as the latest chapter in the famed Leinster-Ronan O'Gara story and while there have been ups and downs for the Munster legend, he’s certainly had the upper hand over the last two years.

In his 16 years as a Munster player he faced Leinster 28 times, winning 13, losing 14 and drawing once.

But when you add in the two games where he has coached La Rochelle to victory over Leinster, it moves him to just over a 50% return.

ROG has had Leinster’s number since his second game as a professional, helping Munster to a 15-12 win in a Musgrave Park mud bath in August 1997.

His match-clinching try in the 2006 Heineken Cup semi-final at Lansdowne Road remains an indelible symbol of the days when Munster lorded it over Leinster.

Shaping to pass on the 22 before fending off a Malcolm O’Kelly tackle-attempt, O’Gara sauntered towards the tryline, enough time to raise an arm in celebration before he even crossed the whitewash.

He had gone from a canter to a trot by the time he dotted the ball down and the hurdle of the advertising board towards the south terrace was to join the Munster faithful in celebration, nothing to do with avoiding a crash.

As the tide turned he was still a central figure, famously at the end of a goading from Johnny Sexton as Leinster celebrated Gordon D'Arcy's try in the 2009 semi-final and then cutting a forlorn figure as he chased after Brian O'Drsicoll who had picked off O'Gara's pass.

Even when Leinster gained the upper hand in the relationship, O’Gara could still prove to be a pebble in the blue boot.

He converted the late try that sealed the 2011 Celtic League Grand Final. Just a