GERRY THORNLEYtalks to Ronan O'Gara and Andrew Trimble who enjoyed their chance to keep Ireland's momentum going

PICKED FROM the start, Ronan O'Gara unveiled his full repertoire of football skills and scarcely put a foot wrong, his only miss from eight being a touchline conversion off the upright, Thus, after ill-advisedly hogging the headlines in the aftermath of Ireland's epic win over Australia, Ronan O'Gara was in more contented terrain after picking up yet another Man of the Match gong.

"I think when we kept it simple, we were very good, and when we tried to complicate it we weren't so good. We were keen as a backline to show what we could do. The forwards were obviously very good against Australia but the backs didn't get many opportunities and we were conscious as a backline that we could show what the Irish backs were capable of, and tonight I think you saw at stages that we were really good when we kept it simple."

"I think there was a great team selection," he added, and no, he didn't mean at number 10. "We had a lot of fellas making their debut in the Rugby World Cup and there was good experience within that. The young fellas bring huge enthusiasm and freshness to the whole thing."

O'Gara was also happy with his own performance, even if he did reckon his crossfield dink for the opening try by Fergus McFadden was undercooked by about a metre. "I'm just playing rugby now with a smile on my face. I felt an awful lot of pressure for 10 years of my career but at this stage I don't read too much into it, get on with it and realise that there is more to life than rugby.

"This is the be all and end all, obviously, but I think when you have kids or when you have a family you appreciate that you have to find a balance. I really enjoy it. People probably felt there was pressure on me for a big performance but I didn't think it.

"I was disappointed not to start against Australia but I know I have an important role to play in the squad and you soon get over that. You can have as much of an impact in 30 minutes as you can in 80 minutes. My head is in a really good place and I just want this team to go as well as possible and to be a part of it."

Now, it's all down to next Sunday against Italy. "That's the whole thing. There's no point beating Australia if we don't front up next week. We're going home on Monday if we don't beat Italy. They seem to have improved and we were lucky to get out of jail in Rome this year.

"They are an emotional team, we saw the benefits of emotion when we played Australia so we have to make sure we take a day or two off, chill out and then refocus on Tuesday."

O'Gara maintained there'd been "a few false dawns over the past two or three years. When you have momentum in sport like we have now you have to keep that going" but he was excited about the week ahead.

"In the past it would probably have been a pressure week but when you're part of a good thing you have to appreciate it and that's what we are at the minute. In 2007 they were coming after us with knives," he recalled with a laugh. "Now it's the other side but that could change very quickly in Irish sport, so we have to make sure we do our homework, prepare to the best of our ability and make sure the journey continues."

It's also patently evident that the players have fed into the phenomenal support they've enjoyed in New Zealand. "We arrived at the ground and all you could see was the bank of Irish fans. We're all human; because you play sport doesn't make us any different to the likes of ye. It gives you a lift and when they are there 90 minutes before kick off you can see there is something exciting building and you want to be part of it. It was a credit to them. I don't think there is that much in Rotorua but they are making the most of it," he said with a cheeky smile.

Andrew Trimble has just as much reason to be miffed and, though generally not as loud about it, patently is too. Referring to missing out from the start against Australia, Trimble was "really disappointed, to be honest, particularly with the way things went and not getting involved and not getting a start. But I mean, that's the way he wants it. That's the way squads are going to be at their best - when there's competition for places.

"But as much as I was devastated, I think you've just got to be honest and genuine whenever you wish guys all the best. I want to see them do well.

"There's a great buzz in the Irish camp at the moment and it's because we've got that camaraderie, that competition."

Trimble has also informed Declan Kidney. "He knows I'm not happy being on the bench, even before I tell him. I don't want to be someone who gets five or 10 minutes at the end of the gate, or not even. I want to play rugby and I feel like I'm at my best whenever I play week in, week out as well.

"And I want to push, and I want to make life difficult for him. If I picked the team, I'd pick me," he said with a smile. Probably playing the best rugby of his life over the last year, Trimble added: "Physically I feel great. My confidence is high. I just want to get on the pitch as much as possible. Whenever I get on the pitch, I just want to feel athletic, I want to feel springy, I want to feel like there's bounce in your legs, like you're going to bring something to the game whenever you get the ball in your hands. And tonight I felt like that."

He too is in a good place. Well, sort of.