I know most of this thread has been about ROG on the pitch. But I just want to show how much of a knob he is off it.
After the 2009 Lions series which
he single handedly lost in the second test.
He still piped up this. Saying he would do the same thing tomorrow. Thinks that a pointless up and under was "going for the win". He then implies that he was a better option than Jones and that Jones was selected thanks to being a favourite of the coaches, after a match where Jones scored 20 odd points and ROG just ruined it. He really ought to have kept his mouth shut after his own performance.
He rounds off this post-Lions interview saying "I didn't have much to do with it". Which again seems a strange thing to say considering that he did actually a lot to do with the series unfortunately.
"That (decision) doesn't cost me a second thought because I'd do the exact same tomorrow,"
"People ask me would you not kick it out but it never entered my head to kick the ball out."
"I couldn't see what a draw would do for anyone."
"The way I look at it you want the win. I know a draw is better than a defeat," he explains.
"But it didn’t enter my head (to go for touch).
"I was sitting in the meeting fully expecting to be selected. I thought I was in poll position. When it was announced it was a big blow," he says.
"I did expect to come on at half-time in the first Test but that didn't happen. With 15 minutes to go it didn't happen.
"I was saying I'm seeing this game differently from everybody else.
"Maybe this management had their minds made up that they wanted Stephen. "
"I just got back to my room and thought I don't think I'm in with a shout here."
"Obviously now people will remember my Lions (Tour) for the incidents in the second Test."
"I thought it was a great opportunity to win a Test series," he says.
"It was a massive opportunity in both our careers and I felt we left the Test series behind.
"I find that hard to take and the fact that I didn’t have much to do with it."
Then later in 2013 he again went about saying after the match he should have played ahead of Paddy. Saying how he would have "done the job". Which again considering ROG's own contribution to that match was to make a comedy error leading to Scotland to score the winning penalty is a bit of a silly thing to say in the circumstances. If he could have "done the job" why didn't he when he was on the pitch?
"For the Scottish game I was the better option but that would change in the summer time with the new boys being promoted and that’s what I would have backed as well.
“But for a crucial away game, I thought I would have done the job against Scotland, and then at least you can walk off into the sunshine happy but that’s the way it goes.
Also add to that he talked similar about Sexton too which led to headlines like this. (
http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-250118012.html) It seems that ROG's ego does indeed think he is a legend and the greatest fly half even after his worst matches.
Also there was that letter he sent to the Irish Times attacking a journalist who criticised his defence in 2010 saying "Kate Moss would be more likely to tackle Bastareaud" (
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/o...-programmed-to-seek-out-failure-28519614.html).
A comment that "falls well short of journalistic standards" according to ROG after the journalist just said he was a poor defender. (
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/s...s-back-at-columnist-kevin-myers-28522403.html). He also has made comments attacking some ex players opinions as invalid based on him having more caps. And blasted Geordan Murphy for missing a tackle vs France 2007, in spite of his own great tackling efforts down the years.
I would question the knowledge of those like this journalist who stroke ROG's ego than one who merely questions his defence in comparison to Sexton as the poor journalist.
http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/ogara-stakes-lions-claim-with-classy-display-28955246.html
http://www.vavel.com/en/rugby/218401-ronan-o-gara-the-greatest-10-ever.html
In short the man has a very high appreciation of himself.
Yeah a bit, ive heard he's a very arrogant man on the pitch, will say anything to wind people up, and isnt the friendliest off the pitch either, he can be a bit of a knob to people who ask for autographs and whatnot. Hardly a sack of **** though, its not as if he's headbutting people on the street or spitting in players faces is he? there's far worse sportsmen about ill tell you that much
His sledging has backfired on him though before. This is what he got for making fun of Sexton missing a drop goal. Contepomi equally rubbed in Argentina's win in 2007 into him.
Also regarding foul play, he is more the type to kick you and run away (see Sean Cox). Also accusations of eye gouging before.
http://www.independent.ie/sport/rug...-as-ogara-accused-of-eyegouging-26548034.html
I find it strange how its Welsh fans more often than not who have a huge dislike for ROG, that 09 dropgoal must have really got under a lot of people's skins eh?
Costing the Lions tour was more to do with it.
Ronan , was the drive behind Munster Rugby for many years... Forwards working well off good territorial kicking , precise goal kicking and adequate passing etc.. that's the way they played and O'Gara suited that game, if you want to see an outhalf chuck it wide or involve himself in carrying more..Don't bother watching Munster they had their system and it worked and he has two Heineken cup medals to show for it. And to disagree that he was the tic to munsters toc in their Heyday would be ignorant
Well South africa from memory then you have...
Two weeks later, on 27 November, O'Gara kicked a last-minute drop goal to give Ireland a 21â€"19 victory over Argentina.
On 10 March 2007, O'Gara once again scored all of Ireland's points to win the Triple crown in Murrayfield.
Then you have
On 14 March 2009, O'Gara overtook Jonny Wilkinson to become the top Six Nations point scorer ever
Including numerous other feats I can't be ****ed to write down.
You're right...not many people would call Andy Goode Ireland's greatest. He being English
And yes In my opinion O'Gara's metronomic kicking at goal when he was needed and his ability to keep a pack going forward was key to Munster and Ireland's relative success over the last decade. And that's coming from someone who harbours an active dislike towards him.
LN7, that 2004 Argentina game was a mixed one for ROG, look at the 79 other minutes. Contepomi outplayed him. Also by ROG was a twat after the match as well bickering with Ledesma.
We've been through the "he scored the points so he must be king" argument.
Also in my opinion, if Sexton was Ireland's fly half in the mid 2000's Ireland would have been far better getting much more out of BOD and the wingers. The Irish national team seem far too content at averageness and just winning Triple Crown in my opinion, they should have disappointed missing out on Grand Slams and Championships in those years such as 2007 when they were elated about winning the Triple Crown.
Doesn't the same old O'Gara **** come up every season?
Some love him, some hate him.
There is only one standoff worth mentioning, the mighty Sweendog!
