Roared on by over 41,000 raucous fans, reigning champions La Rochelle brushed aside the 2020 winners 47-28, scoring the most points and most tries (seven) of any team in a Heineken Champions Cup semi-final.

Former Ireland fly-half O’Gara, the competition’s all-time leading points scorer and a two-time champion, likened the support to that of his former club Munster Rugby.

"I was with the ‘Red Army’ when I was a player, in stadiums like Twickenham with 80,000 people, but what happened today was bigger than rugby,” he said.

“It was enormously powerful for the club, for the city. The supporters are exceptional. They have saved their money this week to be here. It is very important for the players.

"To see such a connection between the public and my players, I really like it. It's something special, it's not 'normal' at all.

“I took a moment to appreciate the La Rochelle public, to savour where we were. I was lucky for 16 years, as a player, to be followed by the ‘Red Army’.

“I like when you have a city behind you, which has the same vision, the same beliefs.If someone had told me ten years ago that I would be here with such a crazy audience. You must love that, it's super cool.”

O’Gara commended his team’s masterful performance after they clinically dispatched of Exeter despite conceding an early try to Sam Simmonds and three further scores when the contest was all but over.

“We prepared for Exeter with great precision,” he said. “We were able to be ruthless. “We were powerful, smart with the kicking game, brutal on the ball carries and in the scrum.

“When you mix it all up, they're great weapons. With a squad that few nations in the world have, it's interesting for me as a coach.

“After a complicated start to the match, the players found their rhythm. Of course, I am disappointed with the tries given to Exeter in the second half. But if I don't complain, it's not me.”

La Rochelle fly-half Antoine Hastoy, who kicked six conversions to remain as the leading points scorer in this season’s Heineken Champions Cup on 85, echoed his coach as he celebrated the incredible atmosphere.

"We felt the public,” he said. “Before the game, we saw the crowd, the photos, the videos and during the game we heard them. It was crazy, it was incredible.

“Before the game, I was looking forward to it while wanting to enjoy these moments. After the game, we savoured, we took the time to go around the stadium, to see the family who had made the trip.

“But the job is not over, we have to go and win in Dublin now.”

Stade Rochelais head coach Ronan O’Gara hailed the club’s passionate supporters after Sunday’s Heineken Champions Cup semi-final win over Exeter Chiefs attracted a sell-out crowd at the Matmut ATLANTIQUE.