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.
