No pain, no gain is O’Gara’s philosophy

RONAN O’GARA may be battered and bruised, but he’s ready to face-up to the fierce physicality Brive will bring to Saturday’s Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-final at Stade Amedee-Domenech.

Four days after helping Munster finally turn the tables on old rivals Leinster, O’Gara is left with a swollen eye on top of pains in his ankle, knee and back. But, matter of factly, he described his injuries as being no more than “That’s what you get in those derby games.”

Unlike unfortunate skipper Paul O’Connell, none of the knocks will threaten his participation on Saturday but he knows it will be another tough physical day at the office. “They’re hardy, they look physical, they look direct.