Mannix banking again on kicking king O’Gara as pressure builds

Munster backs coach Simon Mannix will look to Ronan O’Gara to lead by example against Saracens tomorrow following his five-star performance at Thomond Park last Saturday.

O’Gara has been the difference between the sides in four previous closely fought Heineken Cup encounters spread over 12 seasons, providing Munster with crucial scores in some massive battles.

In 1999 at Vicarage Road, O’Gara landed a difficult injury time conversion of Jeremy Stanton’s try to sink a star-studded Saracens team, captained by South African World Cup winning captain Francois Pienaar (35-34).

A couple of months later – in 2000 — at Thomond Park, his successful touchline conversion (off an upright) of Keith Wood’s try gave Munster a 31-30 victory and a place in the knock out stages en-route to their first final. The international struck again eight years later in a semi-final when he scored a try, conversion and two penalties in the province’s 18-16 win en-route to their second European title.

Mannix can only recall last week’s efforts however, and believes the circumstances of O’Gara’s appearance and performance deserves particular praise.

O’Gara took full advantage of opportunity to nail five penalty goals from five attempts having only passed a fitness test an hour before kick-off.

Munster coach Rob Penney was so worried about O’Gara’s well-being that he ordered young JJ Hanrahan to fly home from England to act as cover in case O’Gara had to opt out.

Mannix takes up the story: : “The worry about O’Gara was to the point that we flew a player back from Rotherham to be on stand-by. It was touch and go right up to the warm up with Ronan.

“You don’t need me to extol the virtues of Ronan O’Gara and the competitive nature he has, or to describe the performance and the way he stood up yet again to the pressure situation.

“I’ve only been here five or six months and it has been a pleasure to come alongside the great players, but to see the attributes that make them at this level and to come out at this late stage of his career, from a coaching viewpoint, I’m so proud of what Ronan did last week.

“We know we’re going to need it again and more this week from him, but history shows he has done it more than once or twice before.”

Overall, Mannix expects nothing less than another massive struggle against a team with what he described as “huge credentials who are undoubtedly one of the top sides in Europe.”

Saracens are smarting from what they consider a disappointing display in Limerick, but Mannix believes Munster have to focus on their own performance and on issues of concern that were raised a week ago.

Of crucial concern to Munster is the requirement to cut the high penalty account, an unacceptable part of last week’s display even allowing for several controversial refereeing decisions

“It’s a key part (penalty count) of every game of rugby, we’ve seen the Munster side play against Glasgow and concede four penalties the week before so we are capable of being a very disciplined outfit on the field; last weekend, some of those (conceded) were down to interpretation, we have had a good look at them and there were some that certainly we could address and we’ve got to concentrate on them.”

Mannix is not prepared to look beyond tomorrow, even if Munster manage to win.

He insists it’s not a two horse race in the quest to emerge from the pool and cites the presence of Racing Metro as equally menacing: ”

“I think we’ve got to consider what Racing have done as well, they’re sitting on eight points with two wins. They go to Edinburgh and it’s a pool that is going to be extremely tight. I think this battle is going to go to the last game.