ROG: refreshed, refocused, ravenous

RONAN O’GARA is relishing the prospect of fighting for his place in the Ireland team, at the next World Cup and beyond.

The Munster and Ireland fly-half, who could win his 100th international cap if selected for the November 6 Test against world champions South Africa, earned the bulk of his appearances in a green jersey as the undisputed choice at number 10.

The emergence of young Leinster out-half Johnny Sexton saw a genuine rival emerge and the pair will battle it out over the autumn international series and 2011 Six Nations to gain the top spot in Declan Kidney’s line-up for the World Cup campaign beginning next September 11.

Such was Sexton’s rise to prominence that as recently as July, 33-year-old O’Gara was declaring that he would be retiring in two years but a strong start to the season and some influential input at both provincial and international level over the past two months has prompted a rethink.

“I’ve a huge battle for the number 10 jersey but that’s the way it is,” O’Gara said as he helped launch a new nutritional range of Lucozade Sports products. “All I can do is control my performances and mental state and my own game.

“I haven’t been as motivated as this in a long time. I had a great pre-season, the season started really well and I’m delighted with the consistency of the performance.

“I’m excited by the challenge of trying to get on the team and doing well for Ireland, and that’s the key point. I’ve always been a big believer that if the team is going well, the out-half is going well and that’s exactly the case going forward whether I start or come off the bench.

“It’s a great position. I haven’t felt like this in a long time and I’m very excited about it, keen to do well and it’s going to be fantastic because playing for your country is the ultimate. I’ve always been very emotional about Munster but with the big year that’s coming up for Ireland I can’t wait to produce the goods for them.”

Asked what had prompted the fresh enthusiasm, O’Gara pointed to both Munster and Ireland camps.

“The words ringing in my ears from a pre-season meeting from (Munster head coach) Tony McGahan, the one sentence I took out of it was that he wants big players having big seasons. That’s how I view myself and I’m taking it game to game and enjoying it. Probably the fact that maybe in previous interviews I said I might play for another two seasons. I’ve kind of gone the other way completely now. I feel that I can’t see myself stopping. “I’m enjoying it, there’s good management at Munster and there’s a really exciting time with Ireland ahead. Maybe a year ago I was probably frustrated, on and off the team. Now it’s all to play for, I feel, and I feel I can offer a lot.”

Of his summer claims about retirement in two years, O’Gara said: “That’s gone. I suppose with hindsight it was an inaccurate way of thinking about it. Why would I put a timeline on it? The minute you stop enjoying it, it’s time to go or if you don’t feel you’re the best man to play, then you go.”

The Munster fly-half also said his renewed motivation had been piqued last week at a meeting with the Ireland team management – “about 10 players and coaching staff”.

“It’s coming from within and possibly from management at Irish level and Munster level.

“I’ve been impressed with the mentality of the Munster squad and I’ve been impressed with one meeting with the Irish management that was really exciting. It’s always good to be a part of that.”

O’Gara’s strong early season form has also attracted media speculation in France that the Irishman could be a target for big-spending French Top 14 clubs when his current deal expires but the Munster star said reports of his resumé being circulated to such outfits were untrue. “I think from my point of view the IRFU gets knocked a fair bit but I’ve had an unbelievable relationship with them in terms of negotiating my contract, I couldn’t speak more highly of them, although that may change for my next one which is up in June. So credit where credit’s due, I can only speak positively about my experiences. I don’t have agent, I’ve a crowd in Ballincollig look after personal requests, H&A Marketing and PR, but in terms of me making any approaches, that’s completely wide of the mark. I’m committed to Munster, and that will presumably take place around Christmas time depending on what Ireland can do for me for the next two years probably.”

In the meantime, O’Gara will bid to impress during November’s four autumn Tests at the Aviva Stadium, starting with the Springboks and also taking in Samoa, New Zealand and Argentina.

“I think it’s a real exciting challenge for the squad. It’s great there are four games and there’s probably a, depth of talent that hasn’t been there in the past, so there’s going to be really good competition for place against quality opposition in the four games.

“So, by the end of that we’ll have a fair idea of who is going to feature in the long term and who isn’t going to feature. It’s great, it’s really exciting, and I can’t wait. It’s a few weeks away but it’s going to be great.”