Ronan O’Gara has called on Ireland’s young crop of players to adopt a ‘club mentality’ while on international duty.
By Declan Whooley
Some of Ireland’s future stars put in a good showing against a poor Fiji side on Saturday, but Ireland will face Argentina at the Aviva on Saturday following a run of six successive defeats.
Iain Henderson, Luke Marshall, Dave Kilcoyne, Paddy Jackson and hat-trick hero Craig Gilroy impressed at Thomond Park and the Munster out-half has urged these players not to be afraid to voice their opinions.
Last season Conor Murray, Simon Zebo and Peter O’Mahony stepped up to the mark for Munster, particularly in the Heineken Cup where the injection of younger blood contributed to a clean sweep in the group stages. O’Gara feels the same is needed at international level.
“What you need is younger players having the confidence to come into the squad and give me a rollicking, or Brian (O’Driscoll) or Paulie (O’Connell) or Tommy (Bowe),” he said in today’s Irish Independent.
“I see it with Munster – and I’m sure the lads from the other clubs would tell you the same – that when players get more familiar with each other, the bond grows stronger and the interaction is natural,” he added.
Irish fans will be hoping that club bond is evident on Saturday as if there is one team that will test the spirit of opponents then it is the Argentineans.
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