O'Gara to cash in as Ireland chase points at Rugby W.Cup

Decorated fly-half Ronan O'Gara will have the chance to add to his record points tally and steer Ireland towards clinching top spot in their pool against Russia in the World Cup at Rotorua on Sunday. The Munster man is Ireland's record points scorer with 1,039 and ranks second only behind skipper Brian O'Driscoll with the most number of international appearances at 113. O'Gara kicked two late penalties that sealed a memorable 15-6 victory over the Australia at Eden Park last weekend to put them in pole position to finish top of Pool C.The Irish have made 10 changes, one of them positional, for the Russia game where a bonus point victory will preserve a three-point gap on Australia with a match to play in the group stage. O'Gara is one of Irish rugby's favourite sons, a four-time Six Nations leading points scorer and it was his drop goal against Wales that clinched Ireland's second Grand Slam in 2009. He caused a fuss within the Irish ranks this week when he was forced to clarify his apparent intention to retire after the World Cup. O'Gara told Irish television moments after Ireland's famous victory:"I'm done with Ireland in a few weeks. I've had a great time in this jersey but I want this to be the biggest time." That was news to the Irish rugby authorities after O'Gara, 34, signed a new IRFU international contract last November that took him up to the end of the 2012/13 season. O'Gara said at the team camp this week:"It's crossed my mind plenty of times over the last two years. I'm a fighter and I'll keep going to the end. "When that is, I'm not sure, but when you set goals for yourself, it always ends with a World Cup. It's about being part of an Ireland team that hopefully will do itself justice in this competition."Playing for Ireland means so much. You don't walk away from that until it's right and you take advice from people you respect. I'm not at that stage." O'Gara's experience in the absence of O'Driscoll, lock Paul O'Connell and centre Gordon D'Arcy will be an important factor as Ireland look to press on after their ambush of the Wallabies."It's about concentrating on our performance and seeing whether we can match up to last weekend," O'Gara said.Coach Declan Kidney said there was a need to freshen his squad because of the emotionally draining win over the Wallabies. "The lads coming in will bring freshness and enthusiasm. The good thing about touring and tournaments is that the guys in the squad already know the calls," Kidney said. "This is the players' World Cup and they'll only buy into that if they get a chance to show themselves."In O'Driscoll's absence, Leinster lock Leo Cullen will lead the Irish team. "I'm delighted to be playing in the first place. It's been a long time coming. Being captain is an extra responsibility, it's a pretty special day for me and the game can't come quick enough," Cullen said. Ireland have only played Russia once, winning 35-3 in a World Cup qualifier nine years ago. The Russians began their first World Cup encouragingly with a 13-6 defeat to the United States but it all fell away against Italy, losing 53-17. It gets no easier for Russia, who will be playing their third game in 11 days on Sunday. The Irish will use Russia as their final hitout before what is shaping as their final and possibly decisive pool game against Six Nations rivals Italy in Dunedin on October 2.