O’Gara decision? I can understand Kidney’s thinking

THIS Irish rugby squad is fast becoming a victim of its own success with expectation levels at home at an all time high coming into this year’s Six Nations. We have also become a treasured scalp for even the top teams. Nothing illustrated this more than the sight of a French side doing a lap of honour after beating Ireland in Paris.

Despite the nature of that defeat, England will savour a win over Ireland with similar relish. Some of their number sat back in silent admiration on the recent Lions tour at the assured presence and professionalism of the four O’s – O’Connell, O’Driscoll, O’Gara and O’Callaghan – along with the skill levels and confidence of the younger quartet of Steven Ferris, Luke Fitzgerald, Rob Kearney and Tommy Bowe.

Eight years earlier on the tour of Australia, the shoe was firmly on the other foot as O’Gara and O’Driscoll along with many others got an insight and a new understanding of what being a professional rugby player was all about. In terms of preparation and application Martin Johnson, Jonny Wilkinson, Neil Back, Lawrence Dallaglio and Richard Hill were on a different planet. Rugby in this country has come a long way since then and one defeat in Paris of all places does not change that.