In Pics: Ronan O’Gara At Kicking Practice
Click here for photos of Ireland fly half Ronan O’Gara at today’s kicking practice at Lansdowne Road.
Pictured above: Munster and Ireland fly half Ronan O’Gara gets in some kicking practice ahead of tomorrow’s RBS 6 Nations game against Italy at Lansdowne Road. O’Gara, who turns 29 next month, has scored 531 points in 55 Tests for Ireland to date, ranking him as the country’s second highest all-time points scorer behind Ulsterman David Humphreys (560).
In five Tests against Italy, O’Gara has scored 73 points including a then 6 Nations record 30 points (6 conversions and 6 penalties) against the Azzurri in 2000 in Ireland’s 60-13 6 Nations win at Lansdowne Road.
Tomorrow will mark the 37th time that O’Gara and his school mate Peter Stringer have started a Test match together as Ireland’s half-back pairing.
O’Gara became the first player to break through the 700-point barrier in the Heineken Cup last month when kicking three conversions and a penalty for Munster in their 46-9 romp in Castres. His record currently stands at 717 points.
O’Gara will be hoping to continue his fine goalkicking record from last season’s 6 Nations into the impending Championship. In 2005, the Corkman finished as the 6 Nations top points scorer with 60 points – Wales fly half Stephen Jones was second on 57.
In the 2005 tournament, O’Gara missed just seven goal attempts, kicking 6 conversions, 14 penalties and 2 drop goals.
**All photos by Billy Stickland of Inpho Photography**