Johnny Sexton on Ronan O'Gara feud beginning: 'Call me a coward? You're useless! A nobody'
In his new book, Obsessed, Johnny Sexton recalls how his intense feud with Ronan O'Gara began in April 2009, when Leinster and Munster were at the height of their rivalry.
Johnny Sexton's fixation with Ronan O'Gara was nothing short of obsessive
And given the way he still talks about their past, it probably hasn't gone away, y'know!
The former Ireland and Leinster out-half, in exclusive extracts from his forthcoming book serialised in today's Sunday Times, traces the beginning of what became a long running feud back to April 2009 following his appearing as a sub against Munster at Thomond Park.
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"The real flare up started when I went to clear out Lifeimi Mafi after he'd tip tackled Chris Whitaker.
"I caught him above the eye with a stud by accident and he retaliated. Fists were thrown.
"Paul O'Connell was quick on the scene, asking Mafi who'd caused the gash above his eye.
"Suddenly, I have Paulie pointing the finger at me and giving me a mouthful. A scary sight. I squared my shoulders at him, but from a safe distance.
"With Paulie there for protection, O'Gara was also in my face. What the f**k are you doing? I responded by shaping to punch him, just drawing my fist back.
"When he winced, I called him a coward and that really set him off. 'Call me a coward? You're nothing. You're useless! A nobody.'
"It soon broke up, but I started his words in a place where they could fester."
The row between the two no10s continued later in the season when the sides met in the European Champions Cup semi-final in Croke Park, the match now seen as the watershed game between the provinces, the one where the power shift occurred with Blue overtaking Red.
"I was delighted with how I played at Croker that day, but my performance is remembered for two things only: that first penalty kick and that famous flashpoint, in the left corner just after D'Arcy's try, when I got into O'Gara's face.
"I've spent a lot of time apologising for that moment over the years - how I regretted being disrespectful towards him, how I may have caused embarrassment to my Munster relations."
And if O'Gara was looking for a full-frontal apology for what happened he is not going to find it here!
"But stuff like this happens in competitive sport. And was it really that bad? His words had played over and over in my head for weeks building up to the game. 'You're useless, a nobody.'
"I went over to O'Gara on the final whistle and offered my hand. He told me to f**k off. He had the hump big time. Maybe it was something to do with the fact that Brian (O'Driscoll) had intercepted him for our final try."
*Johnny Sexton - Obsessed, The Autobiography by Johnny Sexton is published by Penguin, Sandycove on 10th October at €25/£20. Available to pre-order now.
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