Conor Murray reckons La Rochelle were ready for the tough standards Ronan O'Gara set to become Champions Cup winners.
Murray smiled as he said he would wait to congratulate his old Munster and Ireland half-back partner, adding: "I'm sure he's busy celebrating" after Saturday's epic final victory over Leinster.
The Limerick man knows all about what O'Gara wants from a team, having soldiered beside him for province and country - and the Lions - before the latter hung up his boots as long ago as 2013 to move into coaching, firstly with Racing.
"Obviously ROG demanded high standards when you were playing with him," said Murray.
"But you've seen it in French rugby of late - they're way more structured and still have that flair.
"The structure of their game is a lot tighter and that allows them to really be involved at the latter end of competitions, semi-finals and finals."
Murray points out that Donnacha Ryan, O'Gara's forwards coach with Les Maritimes, had a similar approach as a player and has it now as a coach, too.
"He was unbelievably diligent and his homework, he'd be in the training centre until 5 or 6 at night, reviewing opposition lineouts and things like that," said the 33-year-old.
"It's no surprise to see the effect the two lads have had on a very talented La Rochelle side. He (O'Gara) turned them into winners.
"In terms of big games - semi-finals and finals - it does turn a little bit into Test rugby.
"The structure of the game does become an awful lot tighter, the errors are capitalised on an awful lot more. The risks are an awful lot higher.
"They've done an incredible job."
And Murray added: "It was unbelievably impressive, even before this ROG has done an incredible job on his coaching pathway whether in France, New Zealand and back again.
"He seems to have created an unbelievable culture down there.
"It was class seeing them - whether Leinster won or lost wasn't important to us, we went out in the quarter-final - but in terms of the Munster contingent in La Rochelle it was unbelievably impressive, to see the culture he's created down there.
"To see him lift a European trophy again was pretty special.
"Yeah, I'm happy for the way his coaching career has gone, he's taken it unbelievably seriously and has done it the hard way. He's learned his trade, done his time and with Donners coming in (it clicked).
"I'm sure it was an unbelievable challenge coming up against Leinster in a final like that, in a spectacle in Marseille and to come through you're delighted for the two lads, they deserve it."
Meanwhile, the veteran scrum-half has warned Munster to expect a different Ulster challenge at Kingspan Stadium tomorrow night.
The last time the Reds travelled to Belfast they earned a rare win, backing up a strong first half display in April to claim a 24-17 victory.
However Murray knows that result came a week after Ulster were just edged out of the Champions Cup by Toulouse and he expects a rousing response from Dan McFarland's side this time.
The northerners are trying to prevent a fourth Munster victory on the spin in their meetings and Murray said: "There was probably a little bit of an off atmosphere the last time.
"That's probably due to the hype from their European game the week before and turning up again the week after is always going to be a challenge.
"But they've had that time to settle down after their European disappointment, this is knockout rugby and you've got a chance to still win a trophy at the end of the year.
"Both teams' focus will fully be on the URC this Friday night, they'll be looking to beat us obviously and you'd imagine they'll be a little bit sharper than the last day and it required us to be pretty good to get the result.
"There'll be something a little bit more about them this weekend, they'll be focused and we're under no illusions it'll be a tough place to go."
Murray remains intent on ending Munster's trophy drought that stretches back to 2011.
"It'd be huge to win a trophy," the veteran scrum-half admitted. "The Magner's League is nearly gone out of my mind, it's that long ago.
"We're enjoying the way we play, we're in a really good spot at the moment.
"You're probably sick of us saying at this stage of the season that we want to win a trophy and put an end to it, so that's the long-term goal.
"But our focus and excitement is going up to Ulster this weekend, we're confident with the group of players we have to take this match on it's own that we can go up there and give a really good account of ourselves.
"If we do that, we'll be there or there abouts.
"It's a tough route to the final, the way the Leinster game went was a disappointing one, but the route we have we'll figure it out along the way if we get past Ulster.
"It would mean an awful lot, another heartbreak in Europe and the usual feeling this time of year. We've got to keep dusting yourself off and give yourself the best chance.
"With this group, with the youth and the buzz they create. Our coaching group, the maturity of the squad - we've put in an awful lot of work the last couple of years, I wouldn't say we deserve anything but we're putting ourselves in a pretty good position.
"It's exciting, it was tough watching (the Champions Cup final) at the weekend. We had our chance, that's gone and the focus shifts."
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