O'Gara saw off the challenge of Jonathan Sexton after the veteran was preferred for their final Pool C match against Italy in Dunedin on Sunday.
"He played well and he retained his place, which is the biggest compliment a coach can give a player, especially when he is up against someone as talented as Jonathan," Kidney added.Kidney denied the decision had come down to preferring the more experienced O'Gara, who will earn his 116th Ireland cap on Saturday, in the crucial knock-out game. Sexton has 23 caps.
Ireland hooker Rory Best will undergo a late fitness test on his injured shoulder to determine whether he plays their World Cup quarter-final against Wales on Saturday, coach Declan Kidney said on Wednesday.
Kidney bracketed Best for the match at Wellington Regional Stadium with Sean Cronin. Best injured his shoulder in Ireland's final Pool C match against Italy, which Ireland won 36-6 to top the pool.
Apart from the injury to Best, the forward pack is otherwise unchanged from that which started against Italy and will ensure an exciting battle at the breakdown between the Wales and Irish loose forwards. - http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com
