logo
Dan Biggar and Ronan O'Gara agree on next move after Sky Sports success

Dan Biggar and Ronan O'Gara agree on next move after Sky Sports success

Dan Biggar and Ronan O'Gara revealed they would "love" to collaborate on a fresh programme together following their surprise hit partnership that has captivated British and Irish Lions supporters throughout this summer's Australian tour.
Whilst Andy Farrell's squad prepares for this weekend's final Test aiming to clinch an historic 3-0 series victory, the former Wales fly-half and Ireland icon have become a triumph in their own right after joining forces for Sky Sports commentary duties during the tour.
Their natural on-screen rapport and expert analysis has won over audiences, especially when their discussions have escalated into live disagreements, something that has occurred multiple times.
During the tour's early stages, they clashed over whether Farrell's son Owen deserved his place in the Lions squad, creating compelling television with Biggar opposing the selection whilst O'Gara defended it, reports Wales Online.
Former England back Andy Goode even dubbed them "an old married couple" following one particular spat during commentary for the tourists' victory against the Brumbies earlier this month. With a combined 240 caps for Ireland and Wales between them, O'Gara and Biggar possess a treasure trove of experience and knowledge to tap into.
The former - who currently serves as head coach of La Rochelle - brings his tactical expertise from a coaching perspective, whilst the latter delivers a player's viewpoint having recently retired at the season's end.
This partnership has proven remarkably successful and has left supporters clamouring for more. It now seems they may get their wish, as the duo have disclosed plans to collaborate again in the coming months.
Taking inspiration from Monday Night Football's format, Biggar and O'Gara are eager to delve deep into the intricate tactical elements of today's game, delivering "something for the real rugby nerds".
Whilst nothing has been finalised yet, the former Ospreys, Northampton Saints and Toulon stalwart Biggar confirmed he is "sure we'll do some bits and pieces" after the current tour concludes in Sydney this weekend.
Speaking to The i, the 35 year old explained: "We probably don't get enough time in this capacity to expand on a point.
"We'd love to be able to do something for the real rugby nerds. Why is he kicking here? Or, if they play this way, if they play that way, what does it mean for the defence, for the attack, etc?
"We've looked at Monday Night Football as a great example – it gives you a big, long build-up to talk and review the games on the weekend," the Welshman added, acknowledging the success of his partnership with O'Gara.
"We've realised that we have struck something up quite nicely on tour in the last four or five weeks. I'm sure we'll do some bits and pieces, going forward. And the price has gone up after the last few weeks."
On why their unlikely double act has proved to be such a standout success, Biggar offered: "A lot of other channels just go player, player, player. And they may have different opinions, but it's all coming from a player's point of view."
O'Gara added: "Why it works – and it's an immense credit to Dan – is even at this stage of his burgeoning commentary career, he puts a big emphasis on preparation. I've taken it as bonus territory, where my bread-and-butter and the only thing I'm interested in is coaching.
"But I love talking rugby and I looked upon this as an opportunity to chat with Dan off camera, chat with all the NRL coaches you can get your hands on, chat with people associated with the Lions, chat with good rugby people so you grow your rugby knowledge."
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Ireland hero keen for third Lions test to be unforgettable
Ireland hero keen for third Lions test to be unforgettable

Irish Daily Mirror

time6 hours ago

  • Irish Daily Mirror

Ireland hero keen for third Lions test to be unforgettable

Tadhg Furlong is set on making Saturday's third Test against Australia a memorable one, as it will likely be his last appearance for the British and Irish Lions. Although Furlong hasn't completely dismissed the possibility of a fourth tour, he acknowledges that the Accor Stadium showdown is probably the final chapter in his Lions journey, marked by his nine consecutive Test starts. When reminded that he would be 36 years old for the next tour to New Zealand, the Ireland prop responded: "Just about to turn 37. Could you imagine? 'My motivation is obvious. I'm not going to say I won't….I probably won't play for the Lions again. 'The Lions have been very good to me. They've been very good to my career. You want to play well. 'I'm kind of leaving a lot of that emotional stuff behind, without being clinical about it. You want to give the best version of yourself to it. 'Sometimes the last memory is the lasting memory you have in a jersey. I want it to be a good one.' Only seven other players have made nine successive Test starts and Furlong is the second to reach that mark in the professional era, a startling achievement for a tighthead who will return home as a Lions great. Willie John McBride heads the list with 15. 'It wasn't something I overly thought of or knew about. I just wanted to try to get on tour and play rugby and see where it got me,' Furlong said. 'It's class to be up there. When I was young and you think of Lions, you don't see yourself there to be mentioned in the same breath as them – and I probably feel the same way now.' Furlong's first tour was as a 24-year-old to New Zealand in 2017 and his development as a player in the intervening years has been significant. 'The game has changed, definitely. Rugby was so different back then. You're around the corner, you're just working hard and then the game got into one-out carriers and I found my mould there,' he said. 'Then the game changed to more of a pass and options at the line and that changed my game. At the minute it's changed into a hybrid of all of them at the minute. You try to change your game as the game changes.' The series was won with a game to spare following last Saturday's 29-26 victory in Melbourne, posting the first successful tour since the 2013 visit to Australia. 'It's such a hard thing to do and history tells you that. When you play for the Lions, you understand why, in terms of moulding everyone together and trying to get them on the same track, and the schedule and travel,' Furlong said. 'As an achievement, as a team, there's not a massive body of work. You have eight weeks of work to show for it. It's probably one of the more satisfying achievements that I've been a part of.'

'I probably won't play for the Lions again. I want this to be a good memory'
'I probably won't play for the Lions again. I want this to be a good memory'

The 42

time6 hours ago

  • The 42

'I probably won't play for the Lions again. I want this to be a good memory'

EVEN THOUGH HE jokes that he'd prefer if Tadhg Furlong wasn't starting for the Lions tomorrow, Joe Schmidt has as much respect for the Wexford man's achievement as anyone else. Starting nine Lions Tests in a row in a magnificent feat, all the more so in a position as demanding as tighthead prop. At the age of 32, Tadhg Furlong is already a great of Irish rugby, even if being a prop means he won't be as regularly mentioned as others in those kinds of discussions. And the Leinster man's status as a Lions legend is now well beyond debate. 'He's such a gifted player and such a good character,' said Wallabies boss Schmidt, who was the Leinster head coach when Furlong joined the province. 'The first time I met him, he came in with his Mum and Dad with Collie McEntee, who was coaching the Leinster academy. I was coaching there, and he got brought into the office and introduced himself. He blocked the sun briefly, and those shoulders haven't got any smaller since. 'He's certainly an impressive young man and a world-class player, so if he wants a day off on Saturday I'd be happy to see that.' Schmidt remembers tough times for Furlong at the start, initially due to injuries and then the kind of teething problems that any young prop faces in professional rugby. Ireland's tour of South Africa in 2016 was 'a baptism of fire' for Furlong at scrum time, recalled Schmidt, but he soon began to thrive and by 2017, he was the Lions' first-choice tighthead. Furlong and Schmidt with Ireland in 2017. Bryan Keane / INPHO Bryan Keane / INPHO / INPHO Schmidt gave Furlong his Ireland debut in 2015 and benefited massively from the Wexford man's 'multi-purpose' ability in the years that followed. 'I'll never forget the deft little offload he gave to Bundee Aki to go through a gap to give CJ Stander a try at Twickenham [in 2018],' said Schmidt. 'Those skills he has with the ball, his ability to carry himself, and he's very good, quite dynamic in the defensive line. 'We were here [in Australia] on tour in 2018 and I remember David Pocock was just about to decide to get over the ball and Tadhg Furlong put him back a couple of metres from the ball. Advertisement 'He's a pretty well-rounded, literally well-rounded, character.' Furlong himself would probably laugh at that last tongue-in-cheek comment from Schmidt. He has always come across as someone with an endearing, self-depracating humour. Not that he's not entirely serious about his craft. Furlong's work ethic and resilience have helped him to get to this point of a huge achievement with the Lions. He is a smart rugby player, someone whose role in the Ireland and Lions leadership groups isn't about shouting and roaring, but more about providing calm messages and contributing to discussions around how the team should play. Not all tighthead props are as tactically aware as Furlong. Even the way he describes how he has had to change with the game across three Lions tours illustrates that. 'Rugby was so different back then,' said Furlong of his first tour in 2017. 'You're around the corner, you're just working hard and then the game kind of got into one-out carriers and I found my mould there. Furlong celebrates the Lions' second Test win. Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO 'Then the game changed to more of a pass and options at the line and it kind of changed my game. 'And it's changed in a way to a hybrid of all of them at the minute, I feel. So, you try to change your game as the game changes.' Many people doubted that Furlong would get to this point where he has started all three of the Tests on this tour. That was down to the recurring hamstring and calf issues he had all season, meaning he only played once for Ireland and eight times for Leinster. But Furlong always had faith he would be right for the Lions tour. 'It wasn't a big enough injury to warrant it,' said Furlong. 'It was like, we need to get back and play here, lads, because it's on your calendar. You want it so badly. I think the cruel thing is when you go on one, you just want to go on more. You go on that first one, and you take it all in. 'The second one is kind of like you want to perform and the third one, you just want to appreciate it all because you don't want it to pass you by, you know that kind of way? 'There was a stage this season where we were having conversations with medical staff. It's like, 'What is going on here? We need to nip this stuff in the bud.' They managed to do that, and Furlong has thrived. Lions boss Andy Farrell had faith that the experienced tighthead would deliver on the big occasions. Furlong at the Lions captain's run today. Billy Stickland / INPHO Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO Furlong has been rooming with Ireland and Leinster team-mate Thomas Clarkson this week as the latter continues to gain valuable experience while remaining on tour with Farrell's men. There's no one better for Clarkson to be learning from. Furlong is still only 32 and he'll hope that this tour is only the start of a period of better luck on the injury front. But he senses that tomorrow's Test will be his final one for the Lions. 'I'm not going to say I won't, I probably won't… I probably won't play for the Lions again. 'It's been very good to me. It's been very good to my career. You want to play well in it. 'I'm kind of leaving a lot of that emotional stuff behind us. Without being clinical about it, you want to give the best version of yourself to it. 'Sometimes the last memory is the lasting memory you have in a jersey. I want it to be a good one.'

Miyu Yamashita sets pace at Women's Open as Leona Maguire makes cut
Miyu Yamashita sets pace at Women's Open as Leona Maguire makes cut

The 42

time6 hours ago

  • The 42

Miyu Yamashita sets pace at Women's Open as Leona Maguire makes cut

IRELAND'S LEONA Maguire made the cut while Lottie Woad lost further ground at the AIG Women's Open after a triple bogey in her second-round score of 70 left her nine shots behind leader Miyu Yamashita on two under. The Cavan native is tied for 37th on one over par after a 73 on day two. The 30-year-old registered a birdie on the sixth hole, but bogeys on the 11th and 16th left her trailing Yamashita by 12 shots. Both Maguire and fellow Irish star Lauren Walsh began with even-par opening rounds of 72. Dubliner Walsh had a difficult day two as she finished just below the projected cut line on three over par. The 24-year-old struggled for consistency, registering four birdies and seven bogeys, resulting in a second-round score of 75 that left her tied for 71st. Woad, tournament favourite in just her second event as a professional after winning the Scottish Open last week, was on the charge after her sixth birdie of the day at the 14th before suffering a big setback at the par-four 16th. Advertisement Japan's Yamashita followed her first-round 68 with a bogey-free 65 to open up a three-shot lead over compatriot and joint overnight leader Rio Takeda, who carded a 69 on another blustery day at Royal Porthcawl. Switzerland's Chiara Tamburlini, Thailand's Pajaree Anannarukarn and American Lindy Duncan are all tied for third, four shots further back on four under. Another big group, including 2021 Women's Open winner Madelene Sagstrom and Germany's Laura Fuenfstueck – still out on the course having played 12 holes – are tied on three under. Woad, Wales' Darcey Harry and American world number one Nelly Korda are among another group of eight, are tied in 11th on two under. Surrey's Woad, who also won the Irish Open and finished tied for third at The Evian Championship in her final weeks as an amateur, began the day five shots behind the leaders after a first-round level-par 72. The 21-year-old parred the first five holes on Friday before birdies at the sixth and eighth took her to the turn on two under. Four more birdies and a bogey in the next five holes lifted her up to fifth on the leaderboard on five under, but after another par at the 15th, a penalty drop at the 16th, where she two-putted after chipping on to the green, saw her drop three shots. Woad told Sky Sports: 'It's probably playing the toughest hole of the day. I hit a good drive but pushed the three-wood a bit and it went in the one thick bit over there. 'I got a bit unlucky with that but then took my medicine afterwards and ended up making a seven. 'I'm happy with how I recovered after it. I was a bit angry after that but I just had to move on quickly.' Woad parred the final two holes – she missed a birdie putt on the 18th – to finish the second round alongside 22-year-old Harry as the highest-placed home nations players. Harry followed up her opening-round 70 with a 72, which could have been better but for double bogeys at the 10th and 15th. Mimi Rhodes, the leading Brit heading into the day after an opening-round 69, carded a 74 to sit in a big group tied in 19th place on one under, while Charley Hull is a shot further back, tied in 29th place, after she birdied the last for a 71. New Zealand's defending champion Lydia Ko slipped out of contention after posting a second successive 73 to sit two over, while American Lillia Vu, the 2023 Open champion, missed the cut after rounds of 74 and 77 left her seven over. You can view the full leaderboard here.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store