Keyes tips O’Gara to get the nod

RONAN O’GARA’S name should be pencilled in on the Irish team to meet Italy in Rome on Saturday, despite David Humphreys’ brilliant performance against Scotland last Sunday.

Former Irish out-half Ralph Keyes believes O’Gara will almost certainly come back in place of Humphreys, despite the stunning contribution made by the Ulster fly half in Murrayfield last Sunday.

Ireland’s 1991 World Cup star Keyes thinks coach Eddie O’Sullivan will go back to the preferred selection for Edinburgh, which would certainly have included O’Gara.

The Cork Constitution player was ruled out after sustaining an ankle injury in Munster’s Celtic League final against Neath. The Irish management gave him every opportunity to recover, but he ruled himself out on the Wednesday before the Scotland game.

“I don’t think there is any doubt that Ronan would have been chosen above David Humphreys for the game last week.

“But huge credit must be given to David for his performance. He was excellent and contributed hugely to a great win.”

But the 26 points scored by Humphrey might not be enough to keep him in the starting line up.

“It will be a hard call, but I think Eddie and the selection committee will look at the season overall.

“Ronan has been the man in possession and has been in the top of his form.

If his form wasn’t great, then David might just get the nod but that hasn't been the case.

“I think the selectors will look at the bigger picture, at what Ronan has done when he was selected as the number one out half. They will be delighted at David’s performance and know that they now have two top quality out halves at their disposal.”

“At the end of it all, however, I think they will go with O’Gara in the full knowledge that Humphreys can spring from the bench and do a job if he is required.”

Keyes believes Ireland are better positioned than any of the Six Nations teams in terms of out half resources.

“It’s a very important position. Guys need to be good and also be on top of their form. Both O’Gara and Humphreys are talented and are also playing very well.

“I don’t think there is another team that can match Ireland in this regard. England have Jonny Wilkinson, but no proven back up. They would struggle to find a replacement anything as good as Wilkinson and that is a weakness within their squad.

“If you look at Ireland, Humphreys is approaching the 50-cap mark and Ronan has reached the high twenties. That’s a lot of experience and a huge bonus is the fact that they are both playing good rugby.

“Scotland still have Gregor Townsend floating around, but they didn't use him at 10 when he came on as a replacement on Sunday.

“Wales have gone back to using a Rugby League convert instead of Stephen Jones and France, apart from Ireland, would appear to be better placed to finding an alternative number 10, although I’m not quite sure who it would be.”

O’Gara’s three-week absence from top-class rugby would not, insisted Keyes, be an issue.

“These guys are professional and O’Gara has been training. I reckon his withdrawal from the Scottish game was a precaution, knowing that he would be fit to play against Italy.”