Despite an improved showing over the weekend for Munster, O’Gara has paid the price for Ireland underperforming as he is dropped from the squad
By Adrian Collins
Ronan O’Gara didn’t make the desired impact that coach Declan Kidney had ben hoping for when introduced late in the game last week against Scotland, and he has paid the price for that with his place in the squad after being dropped for the game against France.
According to The Independent, he will not be part of the 23-man squad, with Sexton returning to fitness and Paddy Jackson still in at understudy.
While last week wasn’t his best display, he was asked to chase a game and make something happen rather than control a game, which would be his strength.
Perhaps that can be blamed for his decision to make a poor cross field kick which led to a game winning penalty for Scotland, but this decision seems to be very harsh on O’Gara who has been a great servant to Irish rugby.
On the other hand, it would also have crushed Paddy Jackson’s confidence were he to be dropped entirely from the squad too, so this was clearly a very difficult decision for Kidney to make, whose own position is under pressure.
This would not be a fitting end to the career of O’Gara, who was responsible for this fantastic moment in the Grand Slam victory of 2009.
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