Sexton and O'Gara give Kidney a selection dilemma

Tuesday 2 February 2010
Published By: Ben Welch
Six Nations > Ireland

Last year's Lions nightmare seemingly signalled the end of Ronan O'Gara's illustrious international career but the Munster man has enjoyed something of a career resurrection as of late and provides Declan Kidney with something of a selection dilemma ahead of the Six Nations.

Jonathan Sexton, who kicked so ably in the autumn series and contributed to the demise of world champions South Africa, may have a real fight on his hands, says Eddie Butler, writing in the Guardian.

Butler points to the fact that every time Sexton is chosen for his country, the call-up seems to be followed by some form of hand injury, prompting the writer to declare the Munster man to be "a case of all fingers and thumbs".

O'Gara, meanwhile, was terrific for Munster in the Heineken Cup and will be hoping to bounce back for the umpteenth time in a career which has divided the opinion of fans, even back when he was in competition with the "darling of Ulster" David Humphreys.

Butler says: "O'Gara bounced back and not necessarily with a forgiving shrug and a smile. More often he returned with the snarl of a competitor who took all the brickbats very personally.

"He was fiercely driven and Munster and Ireland enjoyed nothing but the benefits, never more so than when he kicked the points against Wales in Cardiff last March."

At club level, O'Gara managed to steer Munster towards the Heineken Cup quarter finals in a tough game against Munster, while Sexton himself was dropping the goal against London Irish which secured a quarter final - and Butler believes this latter act will push the Leinster man into the starting line-up ahead of his record-breaking teammate.