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Jimmy Gopperth played a starring role in Leinster's win over Ospreys yesterday. INPHO/Billy Stickland
High praise

Tony Ward likens Jimmy Gopperth to Roy Keane and Liam Brady

The former Irish out-half was highly impressed by the New Zealander’s contribution to Leinster’s win over Ospreys.

FORMER IRISH OUT-HALF Tony Ward has compared Leinster’s Jimmy Gopperth to Roy Keane and Liam Brady following his influential display in the Irish side’s win over Ospreys yesterday.

Gopperth was flawless with his goal-kicking, retaining a 100% success ratio throughout the game, prompting Ward to compare him to past Irish sporting legends.

“When you see a performance that Gopperth put in last night — and not just his kicking his goals, as Madigan will do that for you as well — it’s just the way he ran the game. There’s an assurance about his game, there’s a calmness,” he told 98fm.

“You know the way other players used to buy into Roy Keane and what he did, and Liam Brady for that matter — great midfielders who controlled the game and let others play off him. He is that type of player. Even though he’s only been at Leinster for a few short weeks.”

Ward also explained that the New Zealander’s outstanding form made things awkward for the other player vying for the fly-half spot, Ian Madigan.

“I’m a real Madigan fan because there’s an innovation and a spontaneous element to how he plays and I love that. He attacks flat and scores so many tries because of it.

“He’s not as finished a game runner or game manager at this moment in time as Gopperth is. And that’s what O’Connor sees. So it’s making life difficult for Madigan and I feel sorry for him in that respect.”

And the former British and Irish Lion said there was little to fault about Leinster’s performance from a collective viewpoint either.

“Leinster were absolutely outstanding. I thought they were brilliant with the way they went about their business.

“I know they say a week is a long time in politics but by God is it a long time in rugby. Last weekend, Leinster were so poor in Limerick, Munster were on their game. Here we are the next week and we get a complete reversal of performances.

“As a coach in any sport, when the team performs to the maximum of their ability and they give you absolutely everything, even if the result goes against you, you know as a coach you can do no more. And Matt O’Connor had to have that feeling last night, but thankfully, he got the reward.”

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Looking good, Sean! It’s the sporting tweets of the week>

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