Ronan O’Gara, manager of La Rochelle. JB Autissier
The former Irish flyhalf looked back on his country’s Six Nations Tournament and his points record that Jonathan Sexton could beat.
With 557 points, the Irishman Jonathan Sexton joined his compatriot Ronan O’Gara in history as joint record holder for points scored in the Six Nations Tournament: “He deserves his finest hour“Assured the current coach of La Rochelle to AFP.
A first grand slam since 2018 for Ireland
Ronan O’Gara: “If Ireland win on Saturday it will only be their fourth in history. (1948, 2009, 2018, editor’s note). It is a country that has won the Tournament three times in fifteen years (2014, 2015, 2018 Ed). We are still well behind the big rugby nations and we have to catch up with them. Andy Farrell showed there was another way to win. Their composure under pressure has been classy.”
His points record beaten by Sexton
ROG : “These individual records are important for the player as well as the person. But I am 46 years old, I had this record for a long time and I am delighted. I know Johnny well, he works really hard. He had ups and downs but he stayed the course, he was able to resist: he deserves his hour of glory. It’s only fitting that he does so as captain at the home Grand Slam in front of his supporters in Dublin. It’s going to be a big day for him and he’ll remember it for the rest of his life.”
Uini Atonio, his player at Stade Rochelais
ROG : “If you watch La Rochelle play from afar and you don’t know him, he jumps out at you. It’s only by spending time with him that you understand who he really is. He is a very caring, thoughtful and honest man. For me, Uini embodies all the good reasons to get into rugby: he likes to learn, he is open, he wants to improve when he already has good skills… He left New Zealand to try his luck in France when he had nothing. It was through hard work and application that he succeeded. It is made to play rugby. (…) He is very generous with his time, he takes care of people. If teammates are not in top form, he is the one to go see.