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"There’s no place like Thomond Park for intimidation" | Ronan O'Gara

Ronan O'Gara joined Monday Night Rugby on Off The Ball to discuss the Thomond Park atmosphere a...



Rugby

"There’s no place like Thomond Park for intimidation" | Ronan O'Gara


Ronan O'Gara joined Monday Night Rugby on Off The Ball to discuss the Thomond Park atmosphere and Munster's new signings.

"I would never ever underestimate the power of the support," O'Gara said.

"There’s no place like Thomond Park for intimidation. I can feel the reverse because I feel ten feet tall whenever I play there."

O'Gara took the chance over the break during lockdown to watch some old games.

"When you can watch some of the atmospheres of the old European games at Thomond, it is something special," O'Gara said.

"Maybe when you retire you can say it leaves a mark on you for the rest of your life. You played in a place that has the most passionate supporters in the game."

O'Gara

O'Gara said it hurt a lot whenever they under-performed or lost at Thomond Park.

"It was a fortress and you’d like to think as Munster people that it always will be a fortress because it means so much to the players."

"If you give the supporters something to hang their hat on, there’s no other supporters in the world like them," he said.

Munster will be bolstered for their upcoming games by the addition of Damien de Allende and RG Snyman both of whom played key roles in South Africa's World Cup triumph.

O'Gara

"They’re two massive signings, World Cup standout performers," O'Gara said.

"I thought one of those signings would give Munster a big boost, but it's not a double boost when you get the two of them, it's a ten-fold boost."

Centre de Allende and lock Snyman had been playing in the Japanese top league before arriving in Munster.

"De Allende was probably the best 12 in the Rugby World Cup," O'Gara said.

"It’s very exciting for Munster with the potential backline they have with de Allende and the options that gives them.

"Obviously Snyman up front, he’s invaluable out of touch.

"The biggest thing it might give them is just a little bit more belief and that’s very important at the highest level."

Munster currently sit in second place in conference B of the Guiness PRO14. They take on Leinster in the opening round of the derby format on August 22nd and then eight days later they host Connacht.

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Munster Ronan O'Gara Thomond Park