The biggest cheer of the night rang out around Musgrave Park when the man on the public address announced that Ronan O’Gara was the ‘man of the match’. It was a fairytale homecoming for the much maligned out half.

He was back among his own, wearing the red jersey of his beloved province and playing on a pitch where he had first played at the tender age of 13.

I have been watching rugby for more years than I care to remember and I have never witnessed a player been put through what the number 10 had to endure in France.

Overpaid pop stars and top soccer stars like David Beckham get this treatment, but they are multi millionaires and know it comes with the job.

Ronan O’Gara, his wife and family, didn’t deserve the humiliation he was forced to undergo during the World Cup.

Last Saturday night he let his rugby do the talking and his kicking was spot on, and he made a few telling breaks.

The out-half in rugby is the playmaker and he has to have his wits about him at all times.

The top number 10s are artistic and sensitive players and thrive on encouragement.

Ronan often recalls the encouragement he got from Mick Galwey when he would run back after putting over a penalty: “Good man, O’Gara,” was all that was said, but it was enough.

Tony Ward, who was in Dooradoyle last Saturday, told me how he was encouraged by wellwishers from Garryowen and how his confidence took a nose-dive when he was dropped by Ireland.

Welsh out-half Barry John was another confidence player who hung up his boots at the age of 26.

Ronan O’Gara knows he is loved by the Munster fans and we need him to be on song at Coventry on Saturday evening.

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