O’Gara targets Grand Slam, even without inspirational BOD
It will be tough, says the veteran fly-half, but he figures the rich form of holders Leinster, Munster and Ulster in the Heineken Cup will help lay the foundations.
Basking in the glory of Munster’s sensational defeat of Northampton to secure a home quarter-final against Ulster, O’Gara is ready for another challenge. He reflected on Munster’s win by saying: “Yeah, it was great. It was exactly what we needed, you know. We’d been playing in fits and starts for a lot of games but it probably wasn’t as bad as some people were making out. And Saturday wasn’t as good as some people are now making out.”
But while he referred briefly to the April encounter with Ulster, O’Gara was more inclined to think about what lies ahead in the coming weeks as Ireland go in search of glory.
He believes focus is now more important than ever in the absence of O’Driscoll.
“It is strange not having Brian around the place. First day of training, you’d be looking to see where he was. The session was a little bit mixed, usually when he is there the standards are really high. When he isn’t there I suppose somebody is going to have to take that role of leading the backs, it’s an area we have to ensure our standards are really high because I think it’s only when you take him out you realise how much of a presence he really is. He’s a class operator and will be missed.”
But he’s convinced Ireland can rise to the challenge, both to overcome O’Driscoll’s absence and to atone for what he described as a disappointing World Cup quarter-final against Wales, their opening Six Nations opponents. He doesn’t view it as an opportunity for revenge, rather an opportunity to put right a wrong.
“You get 80 minutes to do your talking and we didn’t do it that day. I put my hand up and the rest of the team should put their hand up, we weren’t good enough.”
Whether O’Gara will be pulling the strings against Wales from the start or coming on board to play a supporting role to Jonathan Sexton will only be known closer to the day. But he’s in a happy place right now after a good personal World Cup and a sensational run to help Munster through to the last eight in Europe.
An individual or team player then? “Contrary to what certain people think, that I’m difficult if I’m left out of the starting team, that’s not true. I would like to think that if my teammates came in here I’d be seen as the ultimate team man in terms of how I conduct myself, that is so important, that you have their respect, irrespective of what the public think.
“What is important is the value you create for your team, the presence you carry in the squad, because I think that is so much more sometimes than playing ability because people who don’t take the field don’t understand essentially what is involved. You have so many mind games going on, so many games within games going on.
“I’ve seen plenty of good players who, when the going gets tough, walk. You’ve got to have that ability to hang in there for each other and pick up for each other, stick up for each other and fight for every single point.
“I realise exactly where I am at the minute, 34 going on 35. I just want to ensure we put ourselves in the best possible position to win a Grand Slam.”
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