'Dangerous' Ulster big test for La Rochelle - O'Gara

With four Champions Cups on his CV - two from a decorated Munster playing career and another couple as La Rochelle head coach - it is no shock to hear Ronan O'Gara speak about life in Europe's second tier with a degree of apathy.

As recently as three years ago, O'Gara's side were the blue riband competition's dominant force, triumphing in 2022 and 2023.

But after a couple of knockout exits in the past two seasons, they failed to progress from their pool this time around.

Now, La Rochelle have two possible paths back to the Champions Cup: secure a top-eight finish in France's Top 14 or win the Challenge Cup.

Ninth in the domestic standings, O'Gara brings his squad to Belfast for Friday's Challenge Cup quarter-final against UIster (20:00 GMT) after his much-changed side beat Newcastle in last week's round of 16 encounter.

"We're very aware of what we did in the other competition, we don't really want to be playing in this competition," said O'Gara.

"But sometimes in life you've got to take your medicine and this is where we are. We know why we're here and that's because of not getting what we needed to get out of the Harlequins game [in the final Champions Cup pool game].

"That's all in the past now. We're looking forward to Friday, it'll be a big learning experience but a big challenge, but if we were to show our true hand we could be very interesting."

While O'Gara admits to having just "half an eye" on the Challenge Cup, a return to Belfast will perhaps stir memories of the legendary Irish fly-half's youth.

In 2000, he scored every point for Munster in a 21-16 Interprovincial Championship win at Ulster's Ravenhill home, outshining Ireland fly-half rival David Humphreys in the process.

Twenty six years on, the 49-year-old is now attempting to bring La Rochelle's next generation into what he calls the club's "rebuild mode".

Last week against Newcastle, all but one of his starting pack were 23 years old or younger. He started a 19-year-old (Diego Jurd) at fly-half and another (Gabin Garault) at hooker.

Still contending with a lengthy injury list that has robbed him of several seasoned campaigners, he has indicated a similar make-up for the Affidea Stadium contest.

Ulster, chasing their first major silverware in 20 years, are expected to go stronger with head coach Richie Murphy having packed his side with experience and Irish internationals for last week's 28-24 victory over Ospreys.

"We know it's going to go up ten-fold this weekend, it's a different calibre of opposition with a different support base and different intimidation," said O'Gara, whose side beat Ulster home and away in the 2022-23 Champions Cup.

"It's part of the learning curve for every young player so it'll be challenging at times on Friday, but when we're on the ropes we need to stay in the fight against Ulster.

"That's key because they are a hugely improved side, but they still haven't arrived at being able to consistently put away big teams.

"We are a big team even though we'd like to be a big group and there's a difference. We have to transfer the big team into the big group and that's the challenge this weekend for us."

'Ulster play with passion and accuracy'

On top of his day-to-day commitments with La Rochelle, O'Gara keeps a close eye on Irish rugby - and he has been struck by Ulster's upward trajectory this season after a torrid 2024-25 campaign.

"It's been excellent, it's been quick. I think the main point is they look very sustainable and I think they put a huge emphasis on their identity and what playing for Ulster looks like and means to people.

"You can see they play with huge passion and accuracy and obviously they've got a smart coaching group, you can see that in the way they play, the tries they score.

"Obviously Johnny Sexton's brother Mark is there and he's doing a great job and then they have Jimmy [Duffy], who's going back home, but he's always been a really good coach."

O'Gara added: "I think you're seeing the benefits of Richie [Murphy, head coach] being in different environments and working with a lot of class players and class coaches that he is now is probably a better version of himself and he's bringing that experience into how his team are playing or how he wants to play the game.

"[Stuart] McCloskey probably epitomises them. They have their patterns but they're also an instinctive team and that makes them very dangerous."

Image caption,

O'Gara has been impressed with Ulster fly-half Jack Murphy

Keeping Jack Murphy quiet may be key to O'Gara's side leaving Belfast with a win.

The 21-year-old fly-half has been a key figure in Ulster's resurgence and his "laser of a foot" has not gone unnoticed by one of the game's greatest kickers.

"He looks natural and that's one of the most important things that young number 10s need to be," O'Gara said of Murphy.

"If you try and copy someone, it usually doesn't work out, but he looks exciting, instinctive, he can also play the shape his dad wants him to play.

"He looks very interesting. I think he doesn't try and force it and picks the option which is normally the good option which is an important skill.

"His reading and vision is very, very good and he has a very good kicking game, which helps, especially attacking kicks because sometimes the space isn't with the hand the closer you get to the line.

"There's opportunities out wide and he has a laser of a foot so it makes him difficult to play against."