Penney backing O’Gara to deliver

Munster head coach Rob Penney revealed last night that he believes Ronan O’Gara will have a pivotal role to play if the two-time Heineken Cup champions are to upset the odds and beat ASM Clermont Auvergne in Montpellier today.

O’Gara, 36, will be appearing in a record 110th Heineken Cup game and his 10th semi-final this evening at Stade de la Masson. The Corkman, who is set to decide this summer whether he will accept a one-year contract extension to stay with the province or take up an offer to begin a coaching career overseas, kicked all 18 points in Munster’s epic away quarter-final victory over English champions Harlequins earlier this month to further enhance his status as the tournament’s leading all-time points scorer with 1,360.

Now Penney is hoping his side can contain an adventurous and free-scoring Clermont side and let O’Gara work his magic again in a head-to-head with this season’s leading points scorer, scrum-half Morgan Parra.