O'Driscoll backs Rog strength of character to shine through
Wednesday November 25 2009
IRELAND captain Brian O'Driscoll has backed the "strong character" of his close friend and international colleague Ronan O'Gara after the out-half lost out to Jonathan Sexton for Saturday's much-anticipated meeting with South Africa.
O'Driscoll made his debut for Ireland in the summer of 1999, seven months before O'Gara won his first cap against Scotland in 2000 and, together with second row Paul O'Connell, became the triple totems of Ireland's rugby side for much of this decade.
Both were instrumental in Ireland's Grand Slam triumph last season, with O'Driscoll providing inspirational leadership and O'Gara dropping the winning goal in Cardiff.
O'Driscoll enjoyed success with Sexton also, when the two were on the Leinster team that landed the Heineken Cup and the Irish captain sees Saturday as a tremendous chance for the 24-year-old to show his capabilities on the big stage.
"Obviously, from Rog's point of view he will be disappointed. He or any other any other player would have been disappointed to be left out against Fiji, and to be sure, he will be disappointed to be on the bench this week," said O'Driscoll.
Moments
"But he is a strong character, he's shown time and time again that he turns up for the big moments and we know that Rog is capable of that.
"I think as Declan says he's looking at it as giving Jonny an opportunity. He proved himself with his game against an under-strength Fijian side and this is another opportunity for him against the world champions. So, they are two different prospects."
"It's just an opportunity for Jonny to prove his worth."
O'Driscoll also dismissed talk of animosity between the Irish and South African players following Springbok captain John Smit's assertion that it was a "senior Irish player" that forbade the Lions joining the Boks in their dressing room after the Tests.
"I don't know where that's coming from. Animosity? I think no. Certainly there is a competitive edge, as there always is, when we come to face South Africa, but certainly no leftovers from the tour. Like everything else, you move on and look to the next game and that's against South Africa this weekend."
"What a huge challenge that is for us -- to play the reigning world champions in Croke Park for the first time, it's going to be a special occasion."
- Hugh Farrelly
Irish Independent
