Even as a teenager, nerveless O’Gara trusted his instincts

FOR 15 years Ronan O’Gara has been the pivot at the centre of progress of a highly skilled group of Irish and Munster rugby players.

He’s fought off challenges for his position from many other talented pretenders and has established himself asEurope’s greatest player. He’s all about the team and yethe is removed, at a slight distance from his peers.

O’Gara has never been afraid to upset the status quo. He knows his own mind and obstinately believes his own opinions on how rugby should be played. And he backs those opinions up in the best way possible: on the pitch.

Ronan O’Gara started his senior rugby career in UCC in 1995. At 21, I had already established myself as a veteran outside centre in that young College team that included future international Dominic Crotty. O’Gara arrived with a reputation. He was a starter on the Irish Schools and was a key member of the PBC MunsterSenior Cup winning team. However he was unable to win the 10 slot from theincumbent out-half, John O’Mahony. But a space had to be found in the side for the young out-half, and with his puny ten and half stone frame, O’Gara ended up as our starting inside centre.Unsurprisingly, he wasn’t used as a crash-ball specialist, that donkey-work was left to his centre partner, rather he was a distributor and a playmaker, utilising his silky skills and instinct for the game.

We had a great season, resulting in promotion from Division Three. The whole club was buzzing, buoyed by the prospect of competing at a higher level. Then the shocking news broke that O’Gara was leaving in the middle of our glory. He was transferring to Cork Con after only one undergraduate season. The premier Cork club was willing to guarantee him the out-half berth in the top flight. A massive campaign was launched by his UCC peers, pleading with him to reconsider. Many others would have buckled under the immense pressure. But O’Gara had made his decision and wouldn’t be unnerved by the crowd.

Rugby is a physical game and every player expects to take heavy knocks in every game. Nobody shirks contact at the highest level, and while O’Gara is not renowned as a heavy-hitter he can’t be criticised for not trying. The only fear he would have when attempting a tackle on an opponent twice his size, would be that the attacker would burst through his effort. However his real bravery isn’t displayed in the physical battle, but rather in his kicking performances. Most professional players have no fear of the physical confrontation. However, if asked to kick a match-winning conversion from in front of the posts, most would decline. O’Gara displays this mental fortitude every weekend, and he kicks from much more difficult positions.

Many times Paul O’Connell has looked to O’Gara, checking to see if he is willing to take on another difficult kick. His out-half leaves him in no doubt that he will take the challenge on. When a place-kicker steps up to take a shot he usually tries to slip into the same practice ground routine. However, in the intense pressure of top-level rugby, internal mind games can disrupt the most experienced kickers with catastrophic results. O’Gara has tweaked his kicking routine over his 15 years but has retained one consistent ritual. Every time he lines up a kick, he mentally repeats a mantra, reinforcing his self-belief, telling himself that he is ‘the man’.

Munster currently top their pool with 12 points from three wins but the real story is told in the positive eight points difference. Munster’s ERC campaign could be dead and buried if it wasn’t for O’Gara’s boot and his inner belief. When Northampton seemed destined to derail the province’s campaign with a shock Thomond Park triumph, it was O’Gara who dashed their chances with an added-time drop-goal after 41 phases. However it was earlier in that incredible passage of play that O’Gara really showed his guile and instinct. After 34 phases the out-half sat back in the pocket waiting to take a shot. O’Connell flung a dipping low pass to O’Gara’s left. Other tens would have snatched at the awkward opportunity, most probably with a poor outcome. O’Gara made yet another instinctive decision. This wasn’t the right time. He would wait another six agonising phases for the gilt-edge chance. And he nailed it.

At 34, O’Gara has a long and glittering career behind him. He has travelled on three Lions tours and has been a stalwart of the Irish team, re-instating himself as Ireland’s first choice during the World Cup. And he still shines for his province. Throughout his career he has displayed the same trait he showed as a youngster when he stuck with his difficult decision to move from UCC.

He trusts his instincts. He can intuitively detach himself from the emotion of a situation, assess all the variables with a cool head, arrive at his decision and go through with it. It also helps that he is usually right.