“The locals are confident of winning.”
Ronan O’Gara has explained how Parisians are banding together in solidarity after the shocking terrorism attacks on the city last Friday evening.
O’Gara is currently a coach at Racing Metro in Paris and he attempted to put the atmosphere in the French capital into words during an interview on 2FM’s Game On.
“It’s very real,” O’Gara said. “It’s very surreal at the same time. It’s so near, yet so far. It’s kind of disbelief and then it’s actually happening. It’s extremely bizarre and I’ve never experienced anything like it. It’s difficult. I don’t really have words for it and I don’t really know how to explain it.”
The former Munster and Ireland out-half has also explained how the locals have reacted to the devastating attacks.
“I think they [terrorists] are going after nice venues, sporting venues, nice theatres, cafes so when it gets to that stage it’s obviously not good.
“But it’s a great country and I think there are some great people here and the locals are confident of winning.
“You just have to wait and see what it’ll be like in another month’s time but I think that the annoying thing is that the locals feel like it’s only the start of things so it’s head down time.”
Racing Metro travel to Wales to play Scarlets on Saturday and O’Gara has admitted that, while it’s something of an escape for everyone to train, that everybody is gripped by the goings-on.
“Getting on the pitch is good but everything else is consumed with watching the TV and watching what’s going on in the clubhouse and stuff. It’s occupying everyone’s mind, I think.
“There was some small bit of understanding for the Charlie Hebdo situation as perverse as it was but this time there’s absolutely no reasoning so people are lost for words.
“It’s good to get on the pitch but when the sessions end it’s back to watching the TV.”
