O'Gara: I don't know how anyone will beat Ireland

Former Munster and Ireland out-half Ronan O'Gara has said Ireland under Joe Schmidt have developed into a "hard" team, competing at a level of consistency not seen for many years.

Reflecting on Ireland's 18-11 RBS 6 Nations win over France last weekend, O'Gara told RTÉ Sport it had been a good result after a mixed performance, but that "the standards have been raised so much that we're becoming a very hard nation to please at this stage".

He hailed the clinical nature of Ireland under Schmidt, and said this made them a difficult prospect for any opponents.

"They're just so efficient in everything they do that you watch the team and you don't know how a team is going to beat Ireland at the minute. That's the feeling I get inside in the box when I'm watching, anyway, when I'm watching.

"I just think that Ireland for the first 30 minutes were so much in control of the game, and I think they were wearing France down. Probably just, what we lacked was getting over for a try, and if we got a seven-pointer, the game could have been a 30-point margin. That's, I think how convincing Ireland were.

"France came back and attacked hard, but there was never any stage in the game where I felt like France were ever going to win the game."

O'Gara highlighted a number of elements of Ireland's play which, he felt, made them particularly tough to beat, and suggested they had become battle-hardened in key areas around the pitch.

"What Ireland have become is: they've become hard in a number of positions ... they've hard wingers, they've [a] hard full-back – everything, you know what I mean – their contesting of the high ball: when was the last time Ireland have lost a ball in the air?"

"You're watching hard, brutal Test matches where Ireland are competing at a consistency that they haven't for a very long time"

He said this aerial prowess came from clarity in coaching and an awareness in the camp of the importance of securing these kicks.

"I think for every team, and a lot of teams before this current side, those balls were optional," he said. "I think in Camp Ireland at the minute you have to own them or else there's a black mark against your name.

"I think there's that much emphasis put on it. I think it's a great skill and it's a courageous skill, but it's expected if you play on the wing for Ireland that you win those balls; it's not 50-50.

"And the boost that gives your team, in terms of field position, in terms of getting the crowd behind you, [by] showing your bravery: I think that's a huge plus."

He also pointed out that the time of year meant that Ireland had been tested in severe conditions and proved themselves.

He added: "You're watching hard, brutal Test matches where Ireland are competing at a consistency that they haven't for a very long time."

O'Gara said that there was a widespread acceptance that in Joe Schmidt Ireland had the game's best coach, but that fans were now demanding even more from the New Zealander and his team.

"It's got to that stage where we know he's the best, but we want more."

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