RONAN O’Gara laughed off France drafting in Thierry Henry this week while joking about a similar ‘mind game’ he was accused of.
It raised eyebrows when a man who famously raised a hand to break Irish hearts was invited in by Fabien Galthie as a guest into the French camp ahead of Saturday’s battle at the Aviva Stadium.
A man with exceptional handling skills…and Antoine Dupont[/caption]
O’Gara was asked what he made of it just so happening to be the villain behind one of Irish sport’s most notorious moments that just so happened to be wheeled out this week of all weeks.
With a smile, he told Off the Ball Breakfast: “The first thing I thought of when I saw that and could make a comparison was ‘Oh that’s ROG bringing his La Rochelle team to Cork the week they play Leinster!’”
“But y’know for us that was a travel issue. There was nothing in that.
“I’m sure Fabien Galthie has a good range of sporting stars available that he can bring in.
“And see, for us as Irish people that (Henry handball) was huge but for the French I think it was more the way we reacted (that they remember).
“I’d say if you ask a lot of French people as well as their players and coaching staff about Thierry Henry versus Ireland, they wouldn’t be too aware of it.”
Regarding a prediction, the Munster icon found it tough to call as he feels Ireland are a better team – but Les Bleus boast superior individual talent.
He also emphasized how much of a difference Antoine Dupont being involved this time around compared to the corresponding fixture in last year’s Six Nations will likely make.
On Thursday it emerged that Jamie Osborne is a surprise inclusion on the wing for Ireland to face France in the potential tournament decider.
The Leinster utility back has been selected on the right wing in place of Connacht star Mack Hansen who has a quad injury.
Munster’s Calvin Nash got the nod when Hansen missed the Scotland game four weeks ago.
But Osborne, who lined up at fullback for Ireland a fortnight ago against Wales and has started on the wing – always the left – just four times in his career on this occasion.
But interim head coach Simon Easterby admitted that Osborne’s versatility swung it in his favour as the Leinster man can cover five positions.
And that is key as Ireland have responded to France putting seven forwards on their bench to unleash a fresh pack in the second half by selecting six forwards, and just two backs.
Easterby said: “Sometimes there’s really tight calls and it’s just the gut, but in this case there’s a couple of reasons for that.
“And one of those is that Jamie offers us more flexibility in the positions he can play. He gives us that coverage across the backline, in terms of the flexibility to go a 6:2 split.
“He’s done pretty well so far across the short international career he’s had. He’s a fabulous footballer, first and foremost.
“He’s got a physical presence and he’s also got a really smart rugby brain. He understands the game and the feel of the game.
“So we’ve got a bit of flexibility there in terms of his positioning, a flexibility to move him around a little bit in certain parts of the field so we can utilise his left, but he’s also got a right foot as well.
“So there’s a bit of flexibility within the system that would allow us to utilise him and Hugo in different positions.”
OTHER OPTION
Osborne – who is naturally left footed – will likely switch with full back Hugo Keenan at times during the game while the pair, plus James Lowe give Ireland a back three who can kick well.
The rest of the starting XV is largely along expected lines with Garry Ringrose’s suspension meaning Bundee Aki and Robbie Henshaw are in midfield, with Sam Prendergast and Jamison Gibson-Park at halfback.
Tadhg Furlong has not been considered as he returns from a calf injury which means Finlay Bealham wins his 50th cap in the front row alongside Dan Sheehan and Andrew Porter.
And captain Caelan Doris returns to the back row with the rest of the pack unchanged from the win in Cardiff a fortnight ago.
