O'Gara's chance to secure outhalf spot

Ireland's summer tour: Possession being nine tenths of the law, Ronan O'Gara is hoping to lock down the number 10 jersey over the next two weeks. John Sullivan in Nukualofa, Tonga

There is little glamour attached to the physical impositions that he will face in the Pacific Islands of Tonga and Samoa but the Munster and Cork Constitution player knows that it represents an opportunity.

Jockeying for position with David Humphreys for the rights to the Ireland number 10 jersey, game time is a precious commodity and this fortnight offers O'Gara the wherewithal to enhance his claims ahead of the pre-World Cup Autumn internationals.

Having shared the playing rights in the Test match against Australia, albeit that he came from the bench for the injured Humphreys at half-time, the 26-year-old former Lion is now a senior figure, on and off the pitch in the pared down Irish squad (30) that visits the Islands.

Playing superbly last Autumn including a tour de force, kicking-wise, in the victory over Australia at Lansdowne Road, his season was brutally shattered when Neath flanker Brett Sinkinson stamped on his ankle in Munster's Celtic League final success.

Forced to the sidelines, he could only watch as Humphreys helped to inspire Ireland to four wins in succession before the Grand Slam aspirations were derailed by England.

He was fit for the latter part of the Six Nations but was second choice to an in-form player.

A pivotal moment in the outhalf debate was who would be handed the jersey against Australia last weekend in the Subiaco Oval in Perth. Humphreys was the man in possession, a fact unaltered after the selection meeting.

The Ulsterman boarded a plane bound for Dublin on Sunday along with eight others players and his departure will elevate O'Gara to playing duties.

"These two weeks are big ones. It's going to be a new team with neither patterns nor players we're fully familiar with, yet we are still representing Ireland.

"It's a big opportunity and one I'm looking forward to and hopefully I'll grasp it. That's an important step for me. It's an extra responsibility on and off the pitch. Some people might look to me. I will offer experience and a level of explanation to them. That has to be the way to approach this leg of the tour."

The frustration of the Australian game hasn't really evaporated but it will be put behind him when the team resumes training on arrival in Tonga - its capital Nukualofa apparently translates as "the land of love" - today.

"We tired badly, the second half performance was poor. In the first half we did well in periods They're a good side and a physical side but the scoreline flattered them a little. At half-time there was buckets of optimism and we really felt that we could go on and win the game.

"They got a few breakaway tries that kills any team, especially away from home. The disappointing thing is that we folded a bit in our patterns. It's important that we learn from that and rebuild. Breakaway tries are always disappointing, they're soft, bloody tries.

"From that point of view, we're annoyed but the individual effort of fellas was good. We have to raise it a couple of notches against the best."

O'Gara concedes that Ireland must address a distinct failure to be competitive away from the confines of Lansdowne Road against the better teams.

"It's an awful lot easier at home. There's also no point doing it for 40 minutes. There were signs that we were fatiguing. There will be a lot of questions asked about this performance but the character of the side is strong. Fellas will own up to mistakes."

He is philosophical about his current status. "I would have liked to start the match but you can only deal with the cards that you are dealt. It's just important that I kept my own dignity and tried the best I could. Neither the team nor I were up to it on the day.

"It wasn't easy by any means. In fairness to the forwards they did everything that was asked of them in the first half. If we were clinical once of twice more we might have scored.

"That pattern wasn't working with the way we were in the second half. It was an awful lot easier for me because I'm fresh and only playing one half. It's a much bigger workload for the others. It doesn't do your individual chances any good when you're on the receiving end of that but I think the people involved are fully aware of that."

So what of the next two weeks?

"That's the good thing about it. There is a an opportunity for a lot of people in the Tonga and Samoa games, ones which will be just as physical as the Australia match. You can only ask for the opportunity."