Halves going the whole nine yards

Gerry Thornley talks to Peter Stringer about his long-standing partnership with outhalf Ronan O'Gara

It's funny. Maybe it's the customary slack afforded new kids on the block, maybe it's Irish begrudgery, perhaps it should just come with the territory. But when Peter Stringer and Ronan O'Gara step out for their 40th Test in harmony as the Irish half-backs today, you can be sure their performances will be viewed far more critically than when they first did so against Scotland at Lansdowne Road six years ago.

In truth, both of them have probably played a good deal better than they did that day, and assuredly bring more to the party now. You can't buy the experience they now possess, or their familiarity with each other's games.

Stringer has more detractors, yet is playing better than ever. Maybe it's the return of Declan Kidney to Munster, or the emergence of Tomás O'Leary at Munster and Eoin Reddan with Ireland, via Wasps, but then again Stringer has always had challengers and, like O'Gara, is a product of the professional era. And it's hard to imagine he wouldn't have taken all challengers seriously, or not prepared assiduously for any game.

Though it looked to be the case, he denies the Lions tour affected his mindset last season. More likely, with age comes wisdom, and the 28-year-old admits, "This year I just said 'f**k the begrudgers and just get on with your own game'. That's all I've ever been concerned with. If I get the respect from the people who are honest with me and close to me, family and friends, they're the people I listen to. People are entitled to their opinion but at the end of the day it doesn't really matter."

He maintains last season wasn't quite the flawed campaign many made it out to be. Nevertheless, not only are there also less blips in his famed service, he's making more big plays, he's taking the ball more on the move and fixing the close-in opposing defence, and been razor sharp to the breakdown. Good when the going was toughest in Paris, the last half-hour showed him playing off the cuff, injecting quick taps and his own running game. He says he's enjoying himself more, and it shows.

The partnership of Stringer and O'Gara is double that of the next most established Irish half-back pairings, John O'Meara and Jack Kyle in the 1950s and Mark Sugden and Eugene Davy in the 1920s. In latter years it's become even more established, the two partnering each other in 21 of the last 25 Tests; the exceptions being the USA, Japan (twice) and Romania.

What's more, Stringer and O'Gara first partnered each other with the Cork Con under-8s, their paths crossing at Presentation College Cork, UCC and Munster, before teaming up again for Ireland. It's a remarkable story.

"He just seems to be like the only player I've ever played with," says Stringer jokingly. "But it's good, like. It does give you that added confidence knowing where the chat is coming from and knowing the type of ball he wants, because it does take a while to adjust to other players in that position.

"Even at training if some other guys have to step in to first receiver, they're not used to a certain type of pass or something, they might want it standing or a couple of yards in front or whatever. They're the fine things that can make a difference, when they have to be spot on for his transfer to the next guy, because it's just a split second with defences these days. It is good and it does give that added confidence knowing he's there."

And Stringer does have a unique passing style, the ball travelling more upright through the air. "There are always fellas, like Jerry Flannery, slagging me about it, just the way it floats with the ball kinda upwards," he says with a sheepish smile. "People ask me how I do it, and I don't know why. It's just the way you learn I suppose. It obviously comes from feet position and the way you're facing. It's just the natural flight of the ball from where I hold it. They tell me it's easier to catch."

Most likely it dates back to hours harnessing his passing with his father (John) from the age of seven. "Dad was in the middle and I was running and running around the front garden. I'd say if any of the neighbours were looking they'd have been thinking 'this is some form of abuse'. And the old weighted rugby balls he would have had from Dolphin! But, the same as any young fella learning from their parents, whether its reading or writing, it becomes a habit."

Young Stringer would have gone up to his father's club had Dolphin an underage structure at the time, but they didn't, so he went to their Temple Hill rivals at the age of eight. Typical of his voracious desire for self-improvement, by the time he progressed to the under-11s, Stringer would be pouring through a Welsh coaching manual of his dad's and would come to training with new moves for the backs.

One hates to let the facts get in the way of a good story, but as O'Gara is a year older, and as the teams were divided into two-year cycles, the pair were half-back partners every second year. Famously, of course, the two were on a Cork Con team which won an under-12 international tournament in Roche le Molier in France, with Stringer's younger brother captaining the under-11s to their title as well.

Recalling this, Stringer reveals another side to the boys' own wonder of the Stringer-O'Gara story. "I'm just thinking of Mick O'Connell, the guy who was paralysed, was on that team. But he's back walking a few steps and getting some feeling back, which is unbelievable. That's inspiring. He would have been a good buddy of mine and one of the key figures at that age. Good pace for a frontrow forward and great ball-carrier."

The partnership was effectively only renewed for one year at Pres, O'Gara's last, and even though they went on to UCC, O'Gara had moved to Cork Con by the time Stringer began his four-year stint there. O'Gara broke into the Munster team in 1997-98 but by the time Stringer made his breakthrough in 1998-99, an injured O'Gara had relinquished the outhalf slot to Barry Everitt. Thus their first start together for Munster was in a 26-19 win over an Irish XV in Musgrave Park in a World Cup warm-up match in September, 1999.

The following season they were, of course two of five debutants against Scotland. "I don't remember much about it. In the first half-hour there were a few iffy passes, a few low ones and a few high ones. I didn't give Rog the kind of quality ball he probably needed on his debut as well. But the whole occasion, arriving out on the pitch, the build-up of the crowd and the atmosphere. Jeez, what have I let myself in for here?"

He reminded himself it was only a game of rugby, to do what he'd always done, and though taken aback by the comparative lack of time and space on the ball, to trust his instincts. None of the quintet made particularly sparkling debuts, with David Humphreys required to provide a match-turning cameo from the 52nd minute.

Ireland hadn't beaten Scotland in a dozen years and there's hardly been a more rejuvenating day for the Irish team since Mick Doyle's remodelled team extended the Wallabies' grand slammers of 1984 or the opening win away to Scotland in that 1985 Triple Crown and championship campaign.

The other three debutants, Shane Horgan, John Hayes and Simon Easterby, will be there today as well, not to mention Brian O'Driscoll and Malcolm O'Kelly, with Girvan Dempsey and Humphreys on the bench.

Stringer has the lower profile of the halves, perhaps the straight man or silent partner to O'Gara who, with his droll wit, sharp one-liners, looks more relaxed in the public domain, though Stringer would be something of a joker within the camp as well.

"I'm a different person on and off the pitch," admits Stringer. "Around the guys I'm fairly talkative. If I get to know people then I'm willing to let the barriers down a bit but I think I would have that kind of self-consciousness about me and shyness around people I wouldn't be familiar with. But on the pitch I feel comfortable. I'm in a place that I understand."

Indeed, even though he was the second smallest player of 600 at the last World Cup, you wouldn't want to take him on at tiddly winks. Those who know say he's the kind of individual who wouldn't turn his hand, or show his hand, to anything unless he gave himself every chance of being good at it. That constant streak of self-improvement and competitiveness is another common bond between the two.

"We compliment each other if we do the good things, but we keep each other on our toes as well," says Stringer. "It's not all nicey-nice. You need positive criticism and I think we have that as well as being able to tap each other on the back if you do something well."

Memories abound. Some great days, mixed ones, and some bad, but they have been outweighed by the good. "It's mad. Six years. It's flown," admits Stringer. It's been one helluva journey, and it's a long way from over yet.

Most capped Irish

half-back partnerships

1 - Peter Stringer & Ronan O'Gara

Total: 39 (2000-)

2 - John O'Meara & Jack Kyle

Total: 19 (1950-56)

2 - Mark Sugden & Eugene Davy

Total: 19 (1924-31)

4 - Michael Bradley & Paul Dean

Total: 18 (1984-88)

5 - Roger Young & Barry McGann

Total: 13 (1969-1971)

5 - Roger Young & Mike Gibson

Total: 13 (1964-68)

5 - Harry Read & Dickie Lloyd

Total: 13 (1909-1913)