‘Ronan will come back stronger’

PAUL O’CONNELL is backing Ronan O’Gara to bounce back from the shattering experience of conceding a last-gasp penalty to the Springboks in Pretoria last week.

O’Gara’s mid-air challenge on Fourie du Preez afforded the Boks an 80th-minute penalty chance to win the game and clinch the Test series, but O’Connell has no doubts that O’Gara will come back stronger than ever.

“As you might imagine, he was very low after the game; I have spoken to him briefly but he is a very tough guy mentally; that’s one of his biggest strengths. What happened won’t be lost on him, but he has been at the top for a while, he has won games for teams and when you put yourself out there for Lions selection, Irish selection, or club selection you know these things happen from time to time,” said O’Connell.