RONAN O Gara might be capped 99 times for his country and he may also be Irish rugby’s leading point scorer, but there is nothing like wearing the red of Munster for the 33-year-old out half.
“Sometimes there is more pressure as you are playing for the people of Munster and Cork. It is something that is close to me and very important to me.
It is up to you how much you leave the pressure affect you. I enjoy my rugby which is the important thing for me. Sometimes you can worry too much about games and that can be a struggle. You have to find a balance in life and in rugby. There is no better feeling that playing for Munster.”
The Cork native is heading off to La Manga this week with his Munster colleagues after a tough week of training ahead of a much anticipated new season.
“I am really looking forward to it. It is a big season for a lot of us. We are disappointed the way the Biarritz game went. I think we had a lot of injuries too you know. That is not an excuse, but I think even for 45 minutes of the Leinster game we played good rugby. However we seemed to be losing games we should have been winning, so that is something we will have to look at for this season and to address it. There is a great management team there and a great set of players too, so we just need to come back this season and reinvigorate ourselves”.
The disappointment of last season still angers O Gara who feels that the experienced Munster squad should have been able to close out those big games.
“If you look at it we had four injuries in the pack and that is really the main focus in modern rugby. Set piece, line out and scrum are so important. We struggled a small bit in the scrum in those big games and as a result everything else is slower you know. We didn’t have any real dynamism then and as you know, it’s all about small margins in this game. I think we are capable of coming back, but we will need young players coming through and we need the middle tier players in the squad looking to get the jersey full time. Competition for places will be key”.
Indeed Munster are a different animal since last time O Gara wore red. New signings and new academy recruits means that there is a new feel about the squad once more. Something that Ronan hopes will drive the squad on.
“I am positive about the squad. We would be aware of some people saying we are aging and that we are over the hill. There may be a small piece of that but if depends more on conditioning and self motivation than anything. If players are not up for it and responsible for their own want, then those players should not be involved at this level. It is so important for me to help the younger lads coming through. In terms of young players, Scott Deasy and Declan Cusack are willing to learn. That is good to see. Some younger lads are not too interested in learning, but these lads are and they are great talents. It is something I have learned over my career. Listening to lads who have done it all is key. That is why they have done it all, because they knew what they were going through as they went along”.
With O Gara now in his 34th year, experience is something he can pass on. A lesson he learned from the biggest influence on his own career, his father Fergal.
“My Dad was just realistic. There was obviously an emotional bond there, but he always talked sense and you need that. It was better than thinking that ‘my Johnny is brilliant’ you know. There were other times when he told me to knuckle down and get the finger out too you know and that helped immensely.”
Ronan now has his own son, JJ, to pass on life’s experiences to. The new arrival is sure to see plenty of his sporting Dad though.
“It is real life you know. The most important things to me are my wife and my children. It is necessary for me to spend time with them. You are only training certain times in the day so the rest should be spent with family where possible”.
With three kids now in the house and with a big season ahead, O Gara has compartmentalised his season.
“I have to have a look at everything now. The World Cup is a long way away. There is a Heinken Cup to be won in May and then there is a long break to the World Cup. The World Cup is not my priority at the moment. I am looking to get myself right for this first block of the season, from pre season to Autumn internationals, Munster is my focus now and Ireland after that. It has to be that way now for me”.
The adidas and Munster Rugby 2010/11 alternative kit is now available to buy online @ www.munsterrugbystore.com and instore from all leading sports retailers nationwide from today, Thursday 12 August. Pictured in the new kit is Munster’s Ronan O’Gara; the black and green kit will be worn on pitch for the first time against Leicester Tigers on Friday 20 August in Musgrave Park. RRP €57.
