Ronan O’Gara wanted to come home with the best Racing 92 team he could bring. He would have envisioned returning to Thomond Park with Dan Carter, Bernard Le Roux, Juan Imhoff and Joe Rokocoko in tow.
He would have wanted his new team to put up a fight. They were not full strength today but they fought at least. They fought and lost 22-10.
This season is going Munster’s way and, personal and team disappointment aside, O’Gara is absolutely delighted for them.
There was only going to be one Racing representative at the post-match press briefing. Laurent Labit and Laurent Travers were given the night off and O’Gara fronted up.
“It was a good hard game,” he said. “I think Munster had the capacity to pull away from us in the second half and I feared they would kill us with a few other scores. But in fairness to our boys, they hung in there and they kept fighting.”
In time, what will probably stick with O’Gara is not the improved performance from the French champions but the welcome he received upon his return to the city where he once whistled the marching tune. He said:
“I forgot how good this place was if you’re a Munster player. Last night was my first night in Limerick and it was really special, really warming, the people were genuinely decent. When you go away you get on with your own work and what you need to do.
Driving in on the bus today was really cool, all the Munster flags and unfortunately it’s only when you’re finished you appreciate how good Munster have it. To be fair, it’s probably one of the best atmospheres in world rugby. It is that good. That’s not an understatement.”
O’Gara cracked a rare grin when he was asked if he would have guessed Munster would finish the Champions Cup pool stages as second seeds.
“It’s incredible. Because if you rewind to four months ago nobody was interested in this team. ‘This team had lost its identity and look at it now.
“I’ve been in some good campaigns in a Munster jersey, but this current side – what, they’ve lost out to a 53 metre kick in Welford Road and otherwise have a clean sweep. They’re on a roll, they’ll be hard to stop, they play for each other and they’ve real clarity.
“It’s important they don’t look at the finish line. They’ve got to just look at winning a home game here and with a crowd like that, they’ve every chance.”
Munster may not be looking at the finish line – Rassie Erasmus refused to talk his side up after the game – but it did not stop us asking if this Munster side can win the tournament outright.
“I think they have what it takes,” he replied, “but that is not to say that they will win it, do you know what I mean?”
Munster fans know. One giant stride has been accomplished but three more are needed and each one will take its toll.
Ronan O'Gara with an honest opinion on if @Munsterrugby can win the Champions Cup pic.twitter.com/YNwXfkNm1I
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) January 21, 2017
Right now, let’s acknowledge Munster’s 11 wins and single defeat since they were rocked to the core in Paris on October 16.
It has been 113 days since Anthony Foley left us but Munster are a million times better and a million times tougher.
