O'Gara: I was knocked out before missing crucial Lions tackle

Ronan O’Gara has revealed that he was knocked out cold moments before he missed a crucial tackle in the British & Irish Lions’ second Test defeat by South Africa.

The Ireland fly-half explained that he was left briefly unconscious after a massive collision with Springbok number eight Pierre Spies.

According to O’Gara, that contributed to his missed tackle on Jaque Fourie, who went on to score a crucial try in the corner.

“I got knocked out and I tried to get back into the defensive line and missed a tackle,” O’Gara told the Irish Times.

“I was knocked out and didn’t really know what I was doing. I just remember trying to throw myself at Fourie and I couldn’t see him properly. So I missed him.”

O’Gara, meanwhile, defended his much-maligned decision not to kick the ball into touch in the dying seconds of the game in Pretoria - at a time when the scores were tied at 25-25 - and instead opt for a garryowen from inside his own half.

As he attempted to claim his own kick forward, O’Gara was guilty of tackling Fourie du Preez without the ball and Morne Steyn won the game, and the series, for South Africa by nailing the resulting penalty.

O’Gara was lambasted for his indiscretion but he is adamant that the made the right call.

“That [decision] doesn’t cost me a second thought because I’d do the exact same tomorrow,” he declared.

“People ask me would you not kick it out but it never entered my head to kick the ball out. I couldn’t see what a draw would do for anyone.”

O’Gara also expressed his disappointment at not being included in the starting XV for the first Test against South Africa in Durban.

“I was sitting in the meeting [before the game] fully expecting to be selected. I thought I was in pole position. When it was announced it was a big blow,” he admitted.

“I did expect to come on at half-time in the first Test but that didn’t happen. With 15 minutes to go it didn’t happen. I was saying I’m seeing this game differently from everybody else. Maybe this management had their minds made up that they wanted Stephen. I just got back to my room and thought: ‘I don’t think I’m in with a shout here’.”