O’Gara will be asked to stay

RONAN O’GARA will be urged to continue his Ireland career beyond the World Cup should he confirm his desire to retire from international rugby at the end of this tournament.

In the wake of Ireland’s first World Cup victory over a Tri Nations country, Saturday’s 15-6 win over Australia at Eden Park, Auckland, outhalf O’Gara, who kicked two penalties after coming on as a second-half replacement for Gordon D’Arcy in his 113th appearance for Ireland, dropped a heavy hint that he was quitting the team after the tournament.

“It’s massive, this is it for us. I’m done with Ireland in a few weeks,” O’Gara said. “I’ve had a great time in this jersey but I want this to be the biggest time. It’s a great team, a great bunch of lads and it means a lot to us.”