O’Gara to make Ireland’s calls

RONAN O’GARA received a belated 31st birthday present yesterday when named captain of the Irish team to face England at Twickenham on Saturday.

He had no chance of celebrating the event on Friday and little reason to do so after the following day’s disappointing performance against Scotland. His opposite number will be Danny Cipriani, whom he knows well from Munster’s two games against London Wasps earlier this season, rather than Jonny Wilkinson, but that’s something he will think about later in the week.

“I was told first thing this morning by Eddie and I was half hoping for the job, to be honest,” he said. “I’m thrilled, delighted and very honoured.