It was a dark day in Munster’s history.
Replaced during the Thomond Park defeat to Leicester back in 2015, Ian Keatley was booed by the Munster faithful.
Head coach at the time, Anthony Foley, was disappointed at the abuse of his fly-half – who finds himself covering for Paddy Jackson at Murrayfield this afternoon in the absence of Johnny Sexton.
His predecessor at 10 for Munster, Ronan O’Gara, placed his faith in the Dubliner – pointing out his best performances this season, despite losing his starting spot to Tyler Bleyendaal.
“He won them the Guinness (PRO12) game over in Scotstoun this year on the synthetic surface. He won the game against Connacht up in the Sportsground. He is well able to marshal his team around the pitch,” said O’Gara on RTÉ’s build-up to the game.
“I do admire him mentally. That [booing] should never have happened. That was one of the lowest points ever in Munster sport. But that was a disgruntled team on all fronts at that stage.”
However, O’Gara does not pretend that Ireland would not be better off with his former rival and Racing Metro charge Sexton starting in Edinburgh.
“It is not an ideal situation. You don’t want Paddy Jackson getting injured today.”
Ronan O'Gara has faith in Ian Keatley #SCOvIRE pic.twitter.com/g9QRf6xShq
— Mikey Stafford (@me_stafford) February 4, 2017
