Another O’Gara pointer for Kidney

RONAN O’GARA gave Declan Kidney another strong hint he is the man to take Ireland into the World Cup quarter-finals as the starting fly-half for next Sunday’s winner takes all pool finale against Italy.

The veteran out-half made the most of his first start of the tournament by scoring 15 points with the boot from six conversions and a penalty as Ireland ran in seven tries on his watch to secure a bonus point in what would eventually become a nine-try, 62-12 victory over Russia at the Rotorua International Stadium.

O’Gara also became Ireland’s record World Cup points scorer with his sixth and final conversion of the evening, breaking his tie with David Humphreys and moving him to 72 points. Chief rival Jonny Sexton converted one of the two tries Ireland scored after he replaced O’Gara in the 67th minute.