VC Cheika tended to play Sexton in Magners League games to bring him along but for the big HC gamess he would play Felipe Contepomi at 10. Which kind of answers your question. Contepomi, at his peak, was world class. A superb distributor. A great eye for a counter attack. Not a bad kicker. And well able to make a break himself. No criticism for a young player to play second fiddle to someone like him.

“Paul Honiss is still reviled in the Land of the Long Whine Cloud for that piece of reffing.”

In all honesty I think very highly of O’Gara but believe the Irish backs might get better ball with a more expansive fly-half. They really do have one of the most underrated backlines in the world.

Thanks for all the comments again guys. I always enjoy a bit of intelligent rugby banter.

quoting what other players say is an exercise in recalling bumpf and soundbites – Carters hardly going to say he’s limited in the extreme and a turnstyle in a 10 jersey – but he can kick quite nicely …

PHB is right is saying that his play has limited the Irish – their rankings would have been better served with someone with a bit more game – a Tony Ward for example

Paul Honiss is reviled for a lot of reasons in NZ Pothale, but over this decision? Not likely, most NZ’ers would be rapt if Ireland got one over the boks.

“People easily remember the mishaps, the poor tackles…” Exactly. This is not the stuff they remember about the truly ‘phenomenal’ number 10’s.

“And don’t take my word for it – you can find equally praiseworthy comments from Carter about him.”

I won’t. What’s Carter going to say?? That O’Gara is a goose and can’t tell his arse from his elbow? Come on Pothale…

For these very reasons he was most definitely not “an absolutely phenomenal player”, as you so enthusiastically describe him VC.

In many ways I believe his shortcomings restricted the Irish backline for many years.

He was. His reading and direction of matches was superb for both club and country. His kicking stats speak for themselves. People easily remember the mishaps, the poor tackles, and the Lions fluff. If you’ve watched him over his career, he has had plenty of fine moments on the field, and ranks as one of the best flyhalves, not just for his country, but also in the world game.

And don’t take my word for it – you can find equally praiseworthy comments from Carter about him.

VC, is not saying, and neither am I, that he is better than Carter. Neither do I accept that operating on 2 cylinders, Carter is better than him. There may be some skill levels between flyhalves, but at the top level, it’s not that wide.

To keep you happy, O’Gara said last year that he saw Carter as his role model – that Carter was no 1 in the world, O’Gara wanted to be at least No 2. A fine compliment to an undoubted star of the game.

BOD in 2005 Lions, NZ world cup 2007, SA – Ireland 2004 just for recent examples, and they all still get brought up.

And besides, like the Henry handball, both are clear errors by the ref, and I have a funny feeling the Henry incident will still draw anger from Irish fans 20 years later e.g the “underarm” delivery in NZ

I like the fact that Josh sees it as a ‘completely unexpected Springbok defence’. Is he trying to imply that they were prepared for it after all, then?

It’s hardly in Irish folklore, though. Most people forgot about it, until it’s the next time to play South Africa, and then it’s dragged up again.

But as PdV made very clear, this match is not about revenge.

Similar to the way Henry’s handball will remain in French football folklore? : )

I accept that one should remain dubious/reserve judgement – but in order for them to have a comparative second season, you have to let them play. Sexton’s positional kicking and precision kicks are not as good as O’Gara’s but those were honed over time and 90 odd caps for his country.

Whatever the Argentines think of O’Gara (and his 2 H Cup medals, 4 Triple Crowns, and a Grand Slam speak for themselves), it’s necessary for Ireland to have competition for spots. At the beginning of the season, I said that the Autumn Internationals could be treated by Kidney as a win at all costs series, and/or he could find room and time for development of players. The critical spots are 1, 3, 10 and possibly 7 given the changing nature of the role this year and the deleterious breakdown scenario.

Sexton has been an up and coming for the last couple of years. He worked under Contemponi at Leinster and then got his chance to shine when Contemponi got injured. Sexton didn’t falter. He masterminded the semi-final trouncing of Munster and kicked a 40m drop goal in the final in the first ten minutes, before coolly slotting the winning kick.

I was in the RDS last weekend for his test debut. Despite miserable cold, and driving rain, his performance was superb for a newbie. First catch in the game and he was off and running. He slotted 7 from 7 – two out on the sidelines.
If Kidney doesn’t try him out now, when should he?

It’s also a good unknown factor to throw into the mix for the Boks. They expected to have O’Gara, and no doubt would have hounded him because of the last-minute penalty he gave away in the Lions series. Sexton will give them pause for thought – which is no bad thing.

Win or lose, I hope he has a good game, and that it sets him up for a regular slot in the 6 Nations next year.