Support of the Irish team has taken on a more one-eyed view, more accurately, either a blue or red one.
So coming out for O’Gara is a poke in the eye to Leinster and picking Sexton is the death knell to the lads from the south. Not only does it not need to be like this, it shouldn’t be like this. When it concerns the international team, to hell with the provinces!
There is no divine right for any player to be picked. Nor, as was described to me by a disgruntled Leinster fan, was Kidney just picking one of his own. On his head lies this and every selection decision.
I think he has got it right this time and that is no sleight on Sexton. He burst on the scene with a hard running game, a bigger presence in defence, and a self-assurance that is a hallmark of a newcomer with talent.
This has been blunted somewhat by the constant pressure of the international arena.
Teams don’t leave as many gaps in international rugby, or more pertinently, the teams where he has not excelled against, have not.
South Africa, Italy and the strangely conservative France of the last round did not try to do anything with the ball. Nothing, no attacking ploys, no risks and no errors.
They booted the ball back and trusted their defence. Ireland want to play a constant-tempo ball game stretching from side to side and are guilty of forcing the game. Their opposition know it and depend on it.
Dropped passes, knock-ons, flamboyant miss-passes to touch are all signs of a team that are under a tad too much pressure.
Most of Ireland’s back play has had little victories, of creating the desired mismatch, but they have subsequently crumbled due to a lack of accuracy, of composure.
There has been no respite, no drawing of breath; every ball is run. And the only teams in the world with that level of skill and patience are New Zealand and Australia.
The team have lacked balance, a mixing up of the game plan to suit what faces them on the field. And that is the reason that O’Gara is back to face the Scots.
Sure, he will be targeted with big Scottish forwards and centres rushing down his channel and knocking him over.
But as in the 105 times that he has worn the green jersey he will dust himself off and kick a probing touch-finder here and an attacking move there. He knows how to play most ways and has proven to be able to do it time and again.
He is not as fast as Sexton or as strong in defence, but he can read an international in his sleep and this is what Sexton needs to learn fast.
He was not to blame in the first two games for all the errors, but they disappeared under the palpable reassurance that O’Gara provided. It was evident for all to see.
This is not a retrograde step but could be the catalyst for the change that Sexton needs to get the No?10 spot back for the World Cup.
To be honest, Ireland need both of them with something to prove, with a chance for the jersey. The old master and the young buck chastened into maturity; now that is a battle I want to see.
As for Scotland, I really haven’t a clue. In the past year they have played a bodies-on-the-line style that suited the team. It is a style that makes them very hard to beat, but equally very hard for them to win.
Tries are a rarity. But they have been winning and were gathering momentum, until they met the French.
That game turned them on their head and gave them illusions of grandeur. They need to return to what makes them awkward and only expand their game when they have the players to do it.
With all the changes to the side, it is unsure what tack they will take. But in my experience this is when Scotland are at their most dangerous.
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