Old friends are best as O’Gara finds form
After all that trauma and the adverse and largely unfair criticism that was hurled in his direction at the time, he needed somebody he could trust and who knew him better than most to help him restore the levels of confidence so conspicuously missing during his torrid month in France.
That man was waiting when he returned to Cork. Munster coach Declan Kidney has been one of O’Gara’s closest friends and confidants in good times and bad for the best part of 20 years and it has shown in a hugely telling fashion over the past three weeks or so. If the number ten isn’t already back to his best, then such a welcome occasion is surely just around the corner and O’Gara is quick to recognise the reason why.
“If I’m playing in a winning team, I feel like I’m contributing and I’ve really enjoyed the last few weeks coming back into the Munster camp,” he said.
“It’s been brilliant. Obviously, I was very disappointed at the way the World Cup went, but coming home to Munster was really important to me. Deccy gave me time off and it meant a huge amount to me. I took the maximum time off from the game. I got refreshed and I think I’m benefiting from it.”
As for the strange team that the French club put on the field, O’Gara admitted: “There were players we weren’t expecting to be there but, after last week, this game was all about us. We had to win today to stay in the competition, it was as simple as that. When Munster concentrate on themselves, they’re a difficult team to play against and that’s no disrespect to Clermont. All my input went into trying to get Munster right.
“They were tough conditions out there today, especially coming off a soccer pitch last week because of the difference in the quality of the soil. It makes for a slower game in contrast to bouncing off a soccer pitch. So it was a day for the Munster pack and I though they were exceptional.
“Getting the first score was huge and maybe determined the outcome. The second try lifted us further and we were in control at half-time. When you have the elements and the crowd behind you, it’s easier to play and when they got their try, I think we kicked into action again.”
The Munster squad had their first look at Thomond Park in its present situation during a fierce rain storm on Saturday evening. That didn’t help O’Gara’s disposition, admitting to being “shocked on seeing the place so different. We were told that the pitch hadn’t been touched but we had a discussion about that and it seemed different to us. It was a little bit strange, but it will be really exciting when it’s finished. There was a big, gusting wind out there and you’re not really protected at the minute.”
Impishly, he grinned at his audience and mused that “People in their 50s, 60s and 70s would say Munster love that kind of rugby.”
“We’re delighted with the result,” said coach Declan Kidney. “There’s a very thin line between success and failure in this competition and to have got the win against a side of Clermont’s resources is a great credit to the lads and to stick in there and get the bonus was quite an exceptional achievement. That said, there are loads of areas to improve on, but it’s important to enjoy yourself and live the day.
“You can’t overstate the fact that we won. Had we lost, it would have been very difficult to get out of the pool. We showed good discipline in the first 20 minutes in that they came at us around the fringes and we were very strong and didn’t give away anything and didn’t panic.”
Kidney will know more tomorrow but it would appear as there isn’t undue concern about David Wallace and John Hayes, both of whom departed late in the second half.
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