O’Gara comeback put back for week

Barry Coughlan

However, he will be fit to join the British and Irish Lions for their tour of New Zealand next month.

Following medical advice, O’Gara was excluded from the Munster squad of 22 to play Leinster in the Celtic Cup semi-final at Lansdowne Road on Sunday.

The Irish international, who strained medial knee ligaments last month, took part in a full session with the province yesterday, his second since sustaining the injury.

O’Gara is confident of making the final against either Neath/Swansea Ospreys or Llanelli, should Munster win on Sunday.

“I feel fine but this game just came a bit soon for me. I’ve received clearance from the medical people to come back.”

Munster coach Alan Gaffney said: “he trained on Tuesday and again today. The second session was a fairly full-on affair although it was non-contact in the real sense. However, Ronan did everything the other players were expected to do.

“It would have been nice to have him available but the medical opinion suggested it would be unwise to press him into service this week.”

O’Gara was a member of the 2001 squad to Australia and head coach Clive Woodward has not put any pressure on him to prove his fitness.

All the Lions players will, in any event, have to undergo a full medical in the week before the squad leave for New Zealand on May 24, the day after a warm-up game against Argentina.