Win beyond special for a special team - O'Gara

O'Gara has now won four Champions Cups as a player and coach

La Rochelle's Heineken Champions Cup success was "beyond special" for what is becoming a "special team", says head coach Ronan O'Gara.

O'Gara made clear his desire to coach his native country after the victory.

"Yes, of course, I want to coach Ireland as well but you have got to earn that right," he said.

"That was a proper Test match today [on Saturday]. Of course it will [stand him in good stead if he gets the Ireland job]. You're always getting better. You have to be getting better or else you're missing a trick," O'Gara told the Rugby Union Weekly podcast.

O'Gara also said the victory ranks as his best memory from the Lansdowne Road venue at which he enjoyed huge success as a player for Ireland.

"It's brilliant, fantastic," he added.

"It's such a happy place. The boys emptied the tank, it wasn't looking promising obviously for a lot of the game, but we got back into it at half-time.

"Being nine points down was a big bonus for us, even though that sounds contradictory, but we were very happy with that.

"We knew we had them in the maul, we didn't get enough pay back out of that but we got it in the end. It's beyond a special day for us."

• 'Devastated' Leinster's drive for five goes on

La Rochelle celebrated back-to-back Champions Cup wins

As Ireland's second most-capped player and the country's record points scorer, winning three Triple Crowns and a Grand Slam in 2009, O'Gara has enjoyed many highs at the Dublin venue where La Rochelle successfully defended the trophy they won last year by beating Leinster 24-21 in a dramatic final.

As he reflected on his team's performance, the former fly-half did not shy away from answering when asked where this victory ranked in his career - while also finding words of consolation for his opponents.

"Because it is the freshest it is always the best, isn't it?" he said.

"I am just proud of the character of the team, 17-0 down and away from home, they could have easily found a way to find an excuse but these boys have character and character is important in sport.

"We love it. We care a lot for each other. We don't talk about that but we act and there is no bigger proof in the pudding than back-to-back [European wins]. We are probably beginning to be seen as a special team and I think the boys deserve to be there."

He added: "Sport is ruthless. I must admit that as a head coach or leader of this group, you feel for Leinster management and the players, it is horrible. One bus goes happy and the other bus is devastated."

French side launch fightback

Leinster have now lost three finals since winning their fourth title in 2018

Leinster opened up a 17-0 lead with three tries in 12 minutes in a scintillating start, but La Rochelle fought their way back to go in at the break 23-14 down.

The brilliant fightback was capped by Georges-Henri Colombe's late try that secured their victory and denied Leinster a record-equalling fifth European triumph.

However, when asked about his role in galvanising the team, former Munster captain O'Gara instead praised the character of his players.

"I know where I come from, the boys know where I come from," he continued.

"I am very proud to come from Cork, it means a lot to me, a lot of great sportspeople have come out of Cork and they inspire me.

"You mix that with the best of French, South African, New Zealand, Australian, Samoan - we have players from all around the world who I would like to think are made to feel at home.

"It's a brilliant feeling. We back our environment, we have fun. Rugby is meant to be enjoyed and I think you saw it was a group of 23 that didn't down tools and that means a lot to me."