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100 not out: here are 10 classic ROG moments

With the Munster legend set to make his one hundredth Heineken Cup appearance on Saturday, we recall ten of his finest moments.

RONAN O’GARA WILL play in his 100th Heineken Cup game for Munster against the Scarlets this Saturday and to mark the occasion, we’ve compiled a list of ten moments that have helped secure his legacy as one of the finest Irish out-halfs ever.

O’Gara makes his Munster debut

In August 1997, O’Gara appeared for Munster for the first time. Despite only being 21, O’Gara gave an assured display, scoring 19 points. And he wasn’t the only future Ireland star appearing for the first time that day – David Wallace also made his debut.

(Billy Stickland/INPHO)

O'Gara stars in the Miracle Match against Gloucester

Munster needed a 27-point victory and four tries to advance to the Heineken Cup quarter final. It looked unlikely against a formiddable Gloucester side. Yet a heroic performance, topped off with a nerveless last-minute conversion by O'Gara, secured Munster's place in the quarter-final, with a 33-6 victory.

YouTube credit: joekilgobinet

O'Gara wins the 2004 RTÉ Sports Person of the Year award

After playing an integral role in Ireland's victories over South Africa and Argentina in 2004, O'Gara was rewarded for his excellence with the RTÉ Sports Person of the Year award, becoming the first-ever rugby player to attain this accolade.

(INPHO/Billy Stickland)

O'Gara helps Munster to a 2006 Heineken Cup victory

In 2006, Munster beat Biarritz 23-19 in a historic first-ever Heineken Cup victory. And O'Gara played no small role in this triumph, scoring 13 points in the final and playing a pivotal role in their campaign in general.

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O'Gara plays an instrumental role in another Heineken Cup victory

Munster won the Heineken Cup again in 2008, and O'Gara had a significant influence on their victory once more, scoring 11 of Munster's 16 points, as they beat Toulouse. Denis Leamy also scored the all-important try (see below) to secure another hard-fought win.

YouTube credit: munstersabu

O'Gara becomes the first (and still only) player to reach 1,000 points in the Heineken Cup

In order to ascertain precisely how good a player Ronan O'Gara is, you need only examine the facts. With 1,221 Heineken Cup points and counting, his tally is unlikely to be surpassed for a considerable period of time. His conversion below against Clermont in the 2008/2009 season enabled him to pass the 1,000-point mark.

YouTube credit: cgarvey

The drop goal to win the Grand Slam

Ireland were trailing Wales by a point in 2009 with less than three minutes remaining before the ever reliable O'Gara popped up with a drop goal. Though there was still more drama in the form of Stephen Jones' missed penalty in the dying seconds, the Munster star ensured Ireland secured the advantage they needed to successfully get over the finishing line.

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O'Gara wins the ERC European Player Award

On May 16 2010, O'Gara was chosen as the most influential player during the first 15 years of the Heineken Cup. He also was selected in the Heineken Cup Dream team, along with international colleagues including Brian O'Driscoll and Anthony Foley (pictured below).

(INPHO/Getty Images)

The last-minute drop goal against Northampton

Who could forget Ronan O'Gara's memorable late drop goal against Northampton, which secured his side an unlikely 23-21 win in the most dramatic circumstances possible - with the last kick of the game.

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The last-minute drop goal against Castres

Incredibly, O'Gara repeated the trick in Munster's next game against Castres, displaying his nerves of steel to secure Munster a 27-24 victory, which was arguably a more impressive result than the Northampton one, given that it was an away game in France - a place where Irish teams traditionally struggle.

YouTube credit: VicMackey0

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