RONAN O’GARA ADMITS he didn’t expect to be dropped in favour of young Ulster out half Paddy Jackson during the last Six Nations campaign.
O’Gara was introduced for Declan Kidney’s first-choice no 10, Jonny Sexton, in the defeat to England in Dublin, when the then Leinster man picked up an injury.
When it transpired the hamstring injury would rule him out of a trip to Edinburgh, O’Gara was expected by most to fill the role the following weekend.
“I arrived in camp on Sunday,” says O’Gara in an RTÉ documentary to be aired tonight. “In my head I thought I would be selected to start against Scotland but I’d never be sure obviously with Deccie as coach. Never.
“That night, there was a lot of coaches talking to you so you kind of had a good feel that things are looking good. Traditionally in Irish rugby, the morning of a training session — the Monday morning — there are two teams laid out. Obviously the team on the left is the team that starts and I was in that team.
“Something switched then that evening at 5pm, in or around that time. Something changed in Deccie’s head, you know. He asked to speak with me. Even at the start I didn’t realise it was a word about not starting. Things went well in training and I thought it might be about a few tactical issues. I should have known better.
He continues: “In fairness, it’s a horrible job for him to have to do. But he’s done it plenty of times. I can laugh now but at the time, it’s horrible.
“The fact that it it’s not Jonny Sexton that’s playing, it’s somebody else, then it’s very definite that you’re finished. Thoughts go into your head, well ‘why did he put me in to his team?’
“The fact that I was in it and something changed during the day or in the next 10 hours disturbed me even more you know.”
Jackson was substituted for O’Gara as Ireland trailed at Murrayfield. But rather than help get Ireland over the line, the Munster man made two now infamous errors; first with a poorly-executed crossfield kick and then failing to find touch late on, which heaped more pressure on his teammates.
YouTube: RBS 6 Nations
“It didn’t go well,” agrees the Racing Metro coach. “I have no problem admitting that. It’s what happens in sport, it wasn’t a good day. Now that I’m finished it’s obviously nothing like I would have wanted it to finish, but that’s sport. I’ve never thought about this and I’ve never said this but that’s my last game for Ireland, is it? That’s my last contribution, which is staggering really.”
The documentary airs on tonight on RTE ONE at 9:30.
In a strange kind if way I think not getting picked in the 15 contributed to his uncustomary performance … it seemed to sap his confidence which had always been an important part of his game. Still tho …. legend at #10 for Ireland and Munster …. and that’s from a Leinster supporter ;-)
Yeah, it had been the same kind of thing since Sexton took the 10 shirt. Every time he played, he tried to force things a little bit, trying the spectacular, when a simple pass or play that he normally would have done was the better option. South Africa in the previous autumn he did something similar. A few stupid plays that just showed him up while trying to impress.
Losing a shirt that had been his for a long time can mess with a confidence players head, which ROG clearly was. It was sad to see a great career end like that in a green jersey for him…
Decie did screw ROG over royally against Scotland.
ROG poor performance justified the decision to go with Jackson ROG admitted himself he didn’t play well
In fairness, rugby is very much a confidence game and ROG’s confidence was probably shot after being dropped.
To be fair to him the effect of being left out had messed his head so much that coming on must have been very traumatic. He may have been a different player if he had started. Kidneys biggest flaw was his ego based contrarianism, his way of drawing attention to himself, a trait that regularly back fired on him. That and his mild mannered “idiot savant” leprechaun interview style used to drive me up the walls. Can’t argue with his record though.
I really though he would be selected for the Scots game, it surprised me he was not. I didn’t think it made much sense then and still don’t now. Having said that it was one of a number of strange DK decisions. Considering his service to Ireland during a stunning career he deserved that start with Jackson maybe to come off the bench. Yes his powers were waining but they had not gone that far south. Although not my favourite Ireland outhalf he was certainly possible, Ireland’s most effective outhalf.
At that stage any prospect of a slam or 6N championship was gone, so despite ROG being the ‘better’ player at the time, the decision was made to play PJ with an eye to developing him for future campaigns.
Ronan is the best no 10 Ireland ever had. What a pity to have dropped him when he was on the crest of a wave. Deccie could have used his intellect in a more astute way. I only wish Ronan every best wish for the future. He is a great man and his heart is in the right place.
Spot on. Thanks for saying this.
‘Ronan is the best number 10 Ireland ever had’, big call there chief. I agree he’s one of the best, but he’s not perfect. He’s never broke a line in his career and the welsh targeted his lack of defensive ability in the last World Cup perfectly, and Ireland went home.
I agree, Whether people like it or not he has to be hailed as our best ever 10. Only two Irish out halves have a grand slam to their name but he also has three lions tours, granted they weren’t exactly his greatest moments but he was picked. But most of all his sheer mental strength has put him out on his own. No other Irish out half nor anyone commenting on this article has experienced the pressure that he has, on numerous occasions, and stepped up and delivered. As for the comment that “he’s not perfect”, who was?
You must be forgetting the HK semi-final when he broke the Leinster line to knock them out :-D
What’s the name of the other out half?
And my ‘he’s not perfect’ turn of phrase, was a polite way of saying he’s flawed. If I have to explain every nuance or euphemism this site is going to get very dull. #pedantic
Jack Kyle 1948
That’s fair enough, just a misinterpretation, u see how it could have happened!
I’ll never understand the abuse he’s taken for that cross field kick, it was clear what he was trying to do, it was a split second decision where he saw an opportunity for the winger to receive and make a break for line. It didn’t come off and he’s slated, if it had he’d have been hailed a genius and our saving grace.
People can argue all they like but it’s as simple as this: he has played over 120 times for his country, Munster’s highest scoring player, the Heineken cup’s MVP for the first FIFTEEN YEARS, three Lions tours, two Heineken Cup medals, three Triple Crowns and a Grand Slam.
He is arguably the best 10 this country has ever produced and future 10s will be blessed to reach the heights he has.
Admittedly, he may have lost us the second test against SA in ’09, but he also missed kicks to win a Heineken Cup in ’00, and he came back from both unbelievably well.
People can say what they like about his private life, but that’s his life off the pitch and in no way reflects on him as a player. It’s also his life.
Rog was an absolute servant to Irish rugby; there’s no other way of putting it.
I am a greater admirer of ROG but Mike Gibson was the greatest Irish out half of the amateur era and a great centre thereafter. I never saw Jackie Kyle play but from what I read he was outstanding in his own time. I think it is difficult to make comparisons between players of the amateur era and those of the professional era but the amateur game was very different and the players faced very different challenges – like trying to balance a career, making a living, taking care of a family and playing fir club, province, country and in the case of players like Mike Gibson, the Lions. Mike Gibson went on to have a distinguished career as a solicitor, Jackie Kyle was a medical doctor , Tom Kiernan was the President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ireland, Olllie Waldron founded Dragon Oil, and of course Tony O’Reilly was President of HJ Heinz
Well said David.
ROG was an absolute servant to the game and is definitely one of the greatest out halves we have ever produced. However to say he is definitively the greatest I think is pushing it. His list of accolades is incredibly impressive but we shouldn’t lose sight of the fact that he was not the only one on those winning teams. When on form his kicking was about as close to perfection as it comes however there are other fly halves that far surpass him defence and line breaking ability.
To be credited as the greatest ever in a position, you need to be able to master ever aspect of your game.
One terrible cross kick, ROG!
Classic when he didn’t shake the queens hand:)
Ya he did shake her hand!! The only thing was he kept his left hand in his pocket
Is that right, didn’t look that way in the pictures, I stand corrected if that’s the case?
Wrong. He looked like an absolute clown. It’s the ultimate in ignorance not to offer your hand for a handshake, he wasn’t being asked to get down on one knee and kiss her ring or anything…not even the one on her hand. It’s not like he was making a political statement of any kind, so he only succeeded in embarrassing himself and our country through his ignorance.
Bruno I don’t know what your is problem is but you need to talk to someone about your anger towards ROG. The only time I ever see you comment on this site it’s to bash n insult the man. A lot of built up anger there!!!
I haven’t told lies about him like you have.
Good man ciaran!!!!! Playing a blinder on these rog stories
Whatever you say angry man
I’m entitled to my opinion and will express it freely. Seven years ago during the Rugby World Cup, Rog was appealing for privacy amid all the rumours about him gambling and alleged marital problems. Now here he is discussing it in a big tv interview and in articles, probably making a few quid off the back of it…It’s a bit hypocritical in my eyes.
Bruno – he did shake her hand. All the hype and rumours around that photo were merely opportunistic journalism and reporting around an unfortunately timed photo. If you are going to insist on bashing ROG, I suggest that in future you don’t base your comments around what you have read in the red tops as it leads to a very weak and misguided opinion.
Rog story.. Not plural.. Back in your box
Was funny though
Haha you’re useless. Not remember talking about his testimonial and being completely clueless about the one in London in a few weeks. And you’re not funny
Nope where would I find that now???
In your box
Cheers;)
See you and a lot of leinster fans watched for ten years as munster lit up europe with anger and resentment in your eyes. so ye villify the greatest of all european rugby players as voted for the first 15 years of the H-cup. and the highest scoring player in the history of H-cup rugby. He did shake hands with the queen of england. unlike the twisted ape who makes the dirty comment above that ” it was funny when he wouldn shake her hand ” all nastyness towards the most important irish rugby player over a minimum of a ten year period. And an attempt too alienate him from people who would frown on that kind of disrespectful action. He DID shake her hand. He was voted the best player for the first 15 years of the H-cup. He has the highest scoring record since the H-cup started. show him the respect he deserves.
Great player and a gentleman.
To say Ronan O Gara never made a line break just shows pure ignorance. Look at any tribute clip of him on YouTube or for example when he cut through the Leinster defence leaving Malcolm o Kelly sitting on his hole to score a try in the 2006 Heineken cup semi!! And if you read about the queen incident he says it’s complete lies. He did shake her hand and it was just a photo taken at the wrong time.
And how do you feel about his utter failure in the World Cup defensively?
I can’t understand why my tv licence fee goes towards making these kind of documentaries. He was a rugby player for gods sake. I know he was one of better ones but there are other people out there that have done more and there’s no documentaries about them. What is the big deal with these guys?
Green Rebel has a short memory or else has not followed rugby over the past ten or fifteen years. ROG has been one of Europe’s, Ireland’s and Munster’s leading players in recent years and is widely admired by rugby supporters in every rugby-playing nation.
You are absolutely correct. He is a legend and I feel privileged to have seen him play.
Admired in “every rugby playing nation”…Yeah, all 8 of them that take it anyway seriously!
Let me put it this way then – I can understand why MY tv license fee goes towards making documentaries like this.
Bloody Yanks
He was voted the MVP for the the first 10 years of the Heineken cup does that not stop people questioning him. ?
Voted ahead of wilkinson o Driscoll o connell dallaligeo Johnson michilak rougiarie Dominguez need I go on
http://youtu.be/TCfKvzVaRW8
And in the interests of balance
http://youtu.be/Ur6ze5icKnA
He was shafted big time along with the rest of the team and the country as that six nations was a very low ebb for Irish rugby.
He was not perfect, quoting line breaks from 2006 serves the point well and as for defence well that’s not what he did best.
What he was was a player who won games for both Ireland and Munster that no one else could have won. He drove teams forward and put belief into players all around him.
He was not the greatest of all time ( he was never a better player than Johnny Willkinson and the lions teams proves that.
He did help make Irish rugby both for club and country a winning place to be. I for one will never forget some of the great days he gave me when he won games which were lost to anyone else.
Sad end the a great Irish player and totally unnecessary from kidney.