O’Connell praises 'incredible' ROG

Munster lock Paul O’Connell has again voiced his admiration for Ronan O’Gara after the outhalf salvaged a victory with an overtime drop goal for the second week in a row.

It may not have followed 41 phases but O’Gara’s last ditch strike in the Stade Ernest-Wallon reaffirmed the flyhalf’s ability to thrive under pressure.

Munster and Castres were deadlocked at 24 apiece when the clock ticked into the red on Saturday and after an error strewn game a draw may have seemed the fairest result but ROG had other ideas.

Having turned to the Cork man two weeks in a row to rescue a result, O’Connell admits ROG’s experience and cool head under pressure are invaluable to the team.

“He’s (O’Gara) an incredible guy,” O’Connell told the Irish Times. “To have the drive he has after so many years at the top is incredible. If every game could come down to that clutch position where it all rides on him that’s the way he’d like it to be; that’s his attitude.

“It’s great to know you have a guy behind the pack that wants those pressure moments, he’s quite a special character. I knew he had a great chance. I’d say if there was no pressure on, sometimes you may not fancy him, but it seems when the pressure is on he seems to get better and better."

The victory leaves Munster second in Pool 1 on eight points, just one behind the Scarlets who claimed an unexpected bonus-point victory over Northampton in Franklin’s Gardens.

Next up Tony McGahan’s side is a meeting with Edinburgh in Thomond Park on Saturday as the province look to carry their good form in Europe back into the RaboDirect PRO12.