Paris holds no fears for confident O'Gara

IT’S QUESTIONABLE just how cathartic it can be on a personal level to offer the public a glimpse into a private process. Most athletes wouldn’t risk opening a passageway that might allow others to judge them. Ronan O’Gara though rarely subscribes to convention and that’s precisely what makes him such an engaging interviewee.

He doesn’t hide behind generalisations. Invited to bare his feelings, he responds with typical candour. The 32-year-old, who’ll occupy the pivotal outhalf position in Paris on Saturday, isn’t afraid to deal in the specifics of disappointment and how they impacted on him as a person and a player.

Take for example the November Test series when Ireland squared up to Australia, Fiji and South Africa. Top of O’Gara’s wish-list was to play against the world champions but that hope was dashed when Jonathan Sexton was chosen in the outhalf role against the Springboks.

“There was one thing in my head after the summer and that was to try and beat South Africa so that was the one game I wanted to play in,” O’Gara explained.

“It’s the big game of the autumn really and it’s the one that everyone is talking about. It was the game I knew we were going to win so it was an opportunity to put it (the Lions series) right but I didn’t get that opportunity.

“Jonny (Sexton) did well so that hurts. But you move on. A lot happens in a week, never mind a month. It seems like a long time ago now but I think it’s still fresh enough to keep me highly motivated.”

The debate about who would wear the number 10 Ireland jersey during the Six Nations Championship fizzled out when Sexton sustained a thigh injury and wasn’t considered for the Italian match.

O’Gara will start in Paris, driven to succeed for a multitude of reasons. He may be on the right side of the pane of glass now, looking out, but he’s mature enough to realise things can change in an instant. November’s disappointment is still a galvanising factor still.

“It hurts. It’s very disappointing, especially if you care about the team so much. My mantra always has been ‘if the team goes well, then the 10 goes well’. I’ve been lucky enough in the fact that in the last decade a lot of the times that has happened. But I’ve seen the other side of it and that makes you more determined.

“If you’re going to be consistently around for 10 years and playing such high-profile games, you’re going to have both sides of the coin. But I’ve been very lucky and grateful for the teams I’ve played in. I know I can get better. If I thought I ‘could’ get better, it’s not much good. You have to know you can get better because that’s what’s required to be part of a winning Munster team or a winning Ireland team.

“That’s my goal, knowing that I will get better. The last few weeks, there has been an improvement every week and that has to continue this weekend.”

O’Gara paid tribute to Munster coach Tony McGahan for developing the outhalf’s game in recent seasons. He also listed several players who have challenged him to improve, sharing ideas and pushing each other to greater heights.

He’s learned not to take anything for granted because that mindset courts trouble. He went through a five-game period during the Magners League when his place-kicking accuracy, for so long the bedrock of his performances, deteriorated appreciably.

The solution was part attitude, part technique and normal service quickly resumed at both provincial and test level. He was foot perfect at Croke Park and on Saturday he’ll have to match those statistics if Ireland are to prevail in a city where they have endured so much heartache, manifest in just two victories in 38 years (1972 and 2000).

O’Gara played his part in the 2000 success but it’s been slim pickings since. Why? “I think we’ve always given them too much of a head start on the games over there. They’re a formidable team when you let them play their game and they’re on the front foot.

“Usually we’re 20 or 30 points down and I don’t know is it them giving up or tiring a small bit but we usually get back into it, but it’s always too late. So a good start will be imperative this weekend. That’s exactly what we’re concentrating on – the first 20.”

He’s adamant there’s no fear factor. “I don’t think that’s the issue at all. We’ve had all those big wins in France. But from the national point of view it’s been a long time – it’s been too long. We’d be keen to address that this weekend.”