NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP IT IN IRELAND
O’gara says life without Sexton is a chance for others to shine
MUNSTER out-half Jack Crowley will have his chance to shine in the opening Six Nations game against France in Marseilles.
It is hard to think of any single Ireland international selection so freighted with difficulty, circumstance and unknowns.
Win on Friday night and Ireland are set to sweep onwards and upwards – most likely to a Six Nations title and a wide-open road when it comes to aiming at RWC 2027.
At the same time, the classy opposition is France, away from home, doubled down by being in the heat of a passionate Marseilles crowd, and with a rookie No.10 in Crowley (right).
A player who, nine caps into his international career, has inherited the shirt from the all-seeing, all pervading, all controlling presence of Johnny Sexton – this group’s leader for, it seems, aeons.
This is, as Ronan O’gara suggests a fork in the road for Ireland and for the young out-half.
“Obviously for Ireland it’s life after Johnny which is huge, the team will be very different because Johnny isn’t there and he is such a big character,” said O’gara.
“There has been stability in the Irish camp and huge consistency of selection but you’re starting a campaign without one of the key figures in the last 10 or 15 years.
“You might presume that’s a negative way of thinking because with such a big personality removed maybe it also holds the possibility the other out-halves might find their groove now.”
O’gara likes the idea that Crowley will settle all the better for having O’mahony as captain and likes it even better if that was advance planning from Ireland coach Andy Farrell.
A reference to part times at Munster and Ireland when the fledgeling O’gara was brought through under Munster and Ireland toughnut
Mick Galwey.
O’gara said: “Maybe
I’m getting sentimental in my old age but I like a little bit of a
Rog/gallimh feel to it where you have a bit of a Jack/
Peter feel to it. I think there is a percentage to be gained there. Because Jack has a big jersey to fill but he is also the goal kicker, he is also the shot caller – it’s very, very exciting on his behalf and I think that’s how he plays the game.”
Crowley has impressed O’gara so far, and looks as if he can get to the next level.
O’gara said: “What I like about him is he’s not upset making mistakes. The more pictures he sees, the more mistakes he makes, it’s a learning process that happens.”
France are favourites to win in Marseilles but O’gara is not for writing Ireland off.
He said: “Yes of course France have a chance to win as they are at home but so do Ireland.
“In that stadium, there will be a good buzz, there will be a lot of French fans and they might become possessed to play from everywhere.”
Guinness, the official sponsors of the Six Nations, have enlisted the services of Ronan O’gara to deliver a rousing team talk ahead of the game against France