RONAN O’Gara will play his 100th Heineken Cup game this weekend as Munster face the Scarlets in the first of their crucial double headers. Speaking ahead of the game, O’Gara feels that Munster and Scarlets will be close in the ties as they are very similar.
“I think Munster and Scarlets have very similar values. They’re honest, hard working and they’re capable of lifting their game for any occasion. The two clubs have similar core values and they stick to those values and I think when you do that you have a chance of competing in this competition. Huge tradition in both clubs, similar mindsets They work very hard for everything they get they keep their heads down and they work again and that how you get results in this business. That’s exactly what Scarlets have done. Scarlets have had some momentous moments in the Heineken Cup They’re obviously keen on winning the competition they’ve been knocking on the door. They have maybe had a quiet few years but this season they’re back with a bang. They’re a dangerous side probably one of the form sides in Europe with their demolition of Northampton in Franklin’s Gardens I think they’ve been building away quietly for a while putting together a very good squad. They’ve a very shrewd coaching staff some really good young ambitious players and once you get the mix of experience and youth it’s a very potent combination. We’ve a little bit of that in our own team as well at the minute so it makes for a fascinating game. I’d envisage it being a close game, well I hope it’ll be a close game.”
With the prospect of playing the Welsh reds in back to back games now on days away, O’Gara is relishing the chance to get back to action having lost to the Ospreys last weekend.
“In terms of the importance of these back to back games, from my point of view, the way I think, it’s next game for me, so its next Saturday in Lllanelli, nothing else. I haven’t thought about the week after and I won’t think about it till – I know it’s the same opposition and the fixture list has been made – but you have to treat these as one off games put everything into it and then reassess. There probably is a bigger picture in trying to secure as many points and points are vital in this competition. That would be in the back of your mind but you have to go over there expecting a big performance out of Munster and that’s exactly what I’m hoping for.”
O’Gara, synonymous with the Heineken cup is looking forward also to becoming a member of the 100 Club. A famous group it is too.
“To be honest hadn’t given it much thought until it was mentioned. I was honoured to present John Hayes with his cap for his 100th Heineken Cup appearance because he was in my opinion the most fitting Munster man to achieve that milestone. Now that I am aware it’s a great thing to achieve but right now I don’t look on it as anything big, the gamer itself is far too important, but when I retire when I finish playing in a few years time I will look upon it as a significant cap because it’s a fantastic competition, a competition that has given me every possible emotion and that’s why you play the game. I’ve had wonderful moments, disappointing moments, but that’s why you get involved in sport. And that’s why this team is so special to me and why the fans are so loyal to the Heineken Cup, turning up in their droves whenever and wherever we play. The Heineken Cup is just a wonderful ‘ambasador’ for northern hemisphere rugby”
