Ronan O’Gara: ‘You have got to be looking at five metres before the corner flag’

O’Gara notes that Billy Burns found himself standing over that kick with little experience at test level

HARD LUCK: A dejected Billy Burns after Ireland’s defeat to Wales in the opening round of the Six Nations Championship at the Principality Stadium. His misplaced kick ended Ireland’s hopes of victory. Picture: Inpho/Tommy Dickson

Of all the opinions aired after Billy Burns kicked his penalty dead and killed Ireland’s chances of the win in Cardiff, Johnny Sexton’s were the most informative and authoritative. Whether you agreed with them or not was another thing entirely.

The Ireland captain had earlier kicked his own touch finder long and over the end line in an effort to chase the game but his reasoning for both errors was anchored in the realpolitik of test rugby where lineouts and mauls from five metres can lead to tries but those from 10 almost never do.