O’Gara looking to make an impact

Ronan O'Gara is determined to prove to Lions head coach Sir Clive Woodward that Jonny Wilkinson is not the only fly-half option available for the Test series against New Zealand.

The Irishman is confident a stellar performance against Bay of Plenty in the tour opener tomorrow will help him pose a major challenge to Wilkinson, Welsh stand-off Stephen Jones and Charlie Hodgson.

“There is no greater admirer of Jonny in the game than me, but even though he is the standard bearer you have to prove you are a better player than him if you want to get in the Test team,” O’Gara told the Evening Echo.

“There is great competition and the most important thing for me is that I do my best to challenge for a Test spot and if I play to the best of my ability, that will improve the performance of the other three to play in the Test shirt.

“As a result the Lions are better off for having a stronger man in the Test 10 jersey.

“I believe the management when they say everyone is on a clean slate. I don’t think anything worth going after is easy to get.”

O’Gara’s ambitions are high but he knows a poor performance in Rotorua’s International Stadium, against a Bay of Plenty side that promises to be fiercely competitive, could wreck his dreams of playing Test rugby for the Lions.

“I’ve played over 50 games for Ireland so I’m used to the big games and my preparation will be the same but if it does go wrong I won’t get another go, it is as simple as that,” O’Gara admitted.

“You have to be realistic about it and that is the view I’m taking – if it doesn’t go right I won’t be featuring in their minds for the Test selection and I have to accept that. I have to use that as a positive.

“The last tour I wasn’t a contender for a Test spot in my own head because Jonny was so far ahead of me. But I’d like to think now I’ve closed the gap.”