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2011 Irish Rugby: Jonathan Sexton Should Start Ahead of Ronan O’Gara for Ireland
Published: March 27, 2011
Irish rugby fans aren't too unfamiliar with this situation.
It was just over a decade ago when Ronan O'Gara earned his first International cap. At the time David Humphreys had been setting Ireland's back-line in motion for four years. The Ulster man wasn't too dissimilar in his style of play to Jonathan Sexton, but as a 25-year-old O'Gara was kicking all the points in a famous 18-9 victory over Australia, Humphreys was six years his senior and in the decline of his career.
There is an even greater gap in terms of age between O'Gara and Sexton, as O'Gara is now 34 and Sexton 25, but the standard of play couldn't be closer.
The Munster out half has aged way better than Humphreys ever did because of his style of play. O'Gara has never been able to run over a defender or outpace even a half decent open-side flanker; he has always relied on his boot and, critically, his brain.
Understanding of rugby doesn't deteriorate as you get older like your body does. If anything, it gets better. O'Gara's experience and nous gives him a huge advantage over the less experienced Sexton.
Game management is the key to his game. O'Gara's forte is his kicking from hand and reliability when in front of goal. He has scored 1,006 points for his country and more than double that for Munster. He is as consistent as a kicker across the board as anyone else in world rugby whether it be drop goals, kicking from hand or garryowens.
He has been a mainstay in the Munster team that has dominated European rugby for the past decade, relentlessly making his opposition turn backwards and play the game in their territory.
His composure in the biggest of moments is...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Rugby Union
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