O’Gara is the man we fear, admits Cardiff’s captain

CARDIFF BLUES captain Xavier Rush warns Munster out half Ronan O’Gara is the man they fear as the Welsh side bid to overcome the European champions at Arms Park on Sunday.

O’Gara is now regarded as top out half in the northern hemisphere after a series of imperious displays for province and country, and Rush has put his teammates on red-alert.

The Blues and Munster have met three times in the Heineken Cup and, although the score stands 3-0 to Cardiff, they last went head-to-head in the tournament way back in 1998. The Blues recorded a 48-18 win at home in 1996/1997 and then in the 97/98 season won 43-23 at home before notching up a 37-32 away win in Musgrave Park. This was Munster’s sole home defeat in the Heineken Cup, although the Red Army have never lost a European tie in Thomond Park.