Bachelor.ie Interview: It’s Different Being Number 10 - A Chat With Irish International-Munster Legend Ronan O'Gara

“It’s different being a 10, that's exactly what people don't understand. If you want to be a goal-kicker, chief strategist; you're either the main man or you're nothing,” Ronan O’Gara tells us speaking of the position he owned for so long.

As Ireland completed there second victory in two of this year’s Six Nations, thrashing the current champions Wales 26-3 on home soil, there is evidence yet again that the number 10 shirt is in as healthy a position as its ever been.

It was an overall display of superiority instead of beauty. With little flair and pure grit displayed as the warriors in green beat the visitors in the air, in the lineout, broke them down and ushered them into tight spaces for arguably the most complete performance since winning the Grand Slam.

O’Gara’s successor played a major role yet again after the sweeping of Scotland last week. Jonny Sexton secured 16 points and produced some perfect kicks to place the ball half an inch or so on the right side of the line each time- continuously bringing the play forward.

But in the 74th minute Paddy Jackson ran on to the field replacing Sexton as he had done against Scotland. The young Ulster fly-half was evidently bursting with energy and keen to be involved and soon after he took a pass from Conor Murray after a gladiatorial lock between the two teams bordering the Welsh line. Jackson caught the ball and took it over for a try and converted with ease.

When speaking of the his former position Ronan mentions that, “if you want to play out-half for Ireland there's going to be plenty of competitors. It's easy to be a challenger. I think the incumbent is the man who needs to be doing the business, because if you're not you'll find yourself out of the team”. Competition is always good and without a doubt Sexton is the man for the job, but it’s nice to know that should he succumb to the riggers of his responsibilities in France that there are others who aren’t just able to walk onto the field, but are also able to give thrilling displays in possibly the most scrutinised position in rugby.

Schmidt is spoiled for choice and has the option of rotation to the level of no other international team coach. At 22 he has Jackson who is a key player for Ulster and has become more prominent in recent months for Ireland. Ian Keatley had a great start to the year gaining man of the match for Munster in the toppling of Leinster in the Rabo12, while at 24 should Leinster’s and Sexton’s replacement Ian Madigan be able to raise his game he provides another avenue in possible back-ups for the new Irish coach. A topic more relevant since to Sexton’s recent complaints of the strenuous nature of Top14 rugby.

“Jonny's hugely competitive and used to winning, so the results over there (France) haven't been great and it's hugely frustrating at times,” O’Gara is quick to support his Racing Metro pupil. “But that's the reality and you have to deal with that and get on with it. That's what Jonny's doing. It hasn't been easy. He's left the comfy surrounds of Dublin and he's gone into a completely different environment where knowledge of players would be a lot less than he'd have. It's one thing for me dealing with it as a coach, but as a player, he has been frustrated, he will be frustrated in the future again, but he has to deal with it.”

I ask Ronan of a game against the Welsh in 2009, when he ran the pitch to swap jerseys with Steven Jones while no other exchanges were done that day. “Aw, yeah because he missed the kick, that was why. Sure I had been there myself. Sometimes people forget there's another 79 minutes in a game. He's there to kick it over and he didn't and I was just saying don't beat yourself up over it. I've had many a battle with him - It just seemed the natural thing to do.”

But returning the conversation to today, “I think from Jonny's point of view it's good that I'm gone. Hopefully we'll see him performing in a green jersey like he has done in a blue jersey for Joe Schmidt - it's obviously an awful lot harder because international rugby, compared to the Heineken Cup is probably two steps up.”               

Sexton’s skills make him one of the world’s elite, as did Ronan O’Gara’s in his day. It only seems like yesterday we were discussing this promising young player rising through the ranks and who might one day replace ROG. It’s too early to talk like that now about Sexton, but where once there was one in the rearview mirror, now there are three.

Food for thought after a Six Nations victory in which Sexton was no longer the young whippersnapper.