Wood backs O’Gara to bounce back from Ireland disappointment

By Peter Dunne

Thursday, November 26, 2009

FORMER Irish rugby captain Keith Wood has backed Munster out-half Ronan O’Gara to bounce back from the disappointment of being dropped for Ireland’s glamour autumn international clash with world champions South Africa at Croke Park this Saturday.

Wood described the decision to opt for Jonathan Sexton at number 10 as a ‘bold’ one, but said the choice of the Leinster man at out-half was based on the player’s excellent form.

"I was very surprised that Jonathan Sexton was selected. I didn’t really think that is was going to happen," Keith Wood told the Limerick Leader.

"But having said that, Jonny (Jonathan Sexton) has been playing unbelievably well. I don’t think you can say that it is a great surprise in relation to form.

"I think it’s a big call. It will be interesting to see what happens. We want Jonny to do well and see how Ronan comes back from this. He hasn’t been dropped for an awful long time. He is a guy who has delivered time and time and time again for Ireland.

"I would expect him to do so again. We are not getting towards the end of Ronan O’Gara. There is a few years left in him yet.

"He is a guy who, every time he has been given a chance, has delivered time and time again.

"Declan (Kidney) had to make a call at some stage. We are blessed to have another out-half. We have been so lucky over the past 10 years that we have had no injuries to Ronan O’Gara.

"We are in a situation where we have guys playing well and you have to incentivise guys who are playing well, give them an opportunity.

"But people are wrong if they write Ronan O’Gara off now. Everybody gets dropped. It is absolutely the nature of the game. It’s guaranteed. It is how you get over it. You don’t have a divine right to play, but Ronan will just come back stronger."

Wood said he believed Sexton would be in the ‘box seat’ to start for Ireland in next year’s Six Nations championship should he perform well against South Africa and maintain his good form for Leinster over the next couple of months.

"There is a huge amount of games to be played between now and the start of the Six Nations. While Saturday’s match is a very big game for Ireland, it isn’t one with a trophy dependant on it," Wood said.

"It makes the selection of Jonny (Sexton) an easier punt maybe than if we were playing against France in the Six Nations.

"If Jonny comes through this and plays unbelievably well, he then is in the box seat, without a shadow of a doubt, for the Six Nations. He has played well for nine months now. He got his chance with Leinster and with Ireland last weekend and has delivered very well. Each time he has done very well. We wish he would do well against South Africa."

This story appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Thursday, November 26, 2009