Ireland were hamstrung by their traditional slow start against France and although they recovered to secure a winning position, they were ambushed deep into injury-time and lost 20-17.

O'Gara warns they can not be so generous in Saturday's vital RBS 6 Nations clash with England and knows his half-back partnership with Peter Stringer, who has recovered from a fractured hand, is crucial.

But the 29-year-old Munster fly-half has stressed the role Ireland's forwards in particular must play if he is to unleash his side's celebrated backline.

'As a half-back partnership, it's important that we get into the game a bit quicker than we did against France,' he said.

'The France game was a huge disappointment. I was unhappy with one or two things, like sliced kicks, and I think it would be better for me if we brought more intensity into our game.

'That would give me more ball on the front foot, giving us space to run at the opposition. An outside-half's game is hugely determined by what goes on around him.

'On some days you can look very good as a result of other people's work, other days you might look average. It's not always down to yourself.

And OGara is hoping the Irish fans can help give their team the edge on Saturday after the narrow defeat against France in the previous round of matches.

'The atmosphere at Croke Park was brilliant, incredible. It made you proud to be Irish. There was unbelievable support in the second half,' he added.

'It was going to be a good day for Ireland but it ended up being another harsh lesson for us - that you must keep playing until the final whistle.

'When I kicked that penalty I think maybe a few of the boys switched off - most of the team in fact. That's exactly the way I was thinking.

'There were just a couple of minutes left and I thought let's get the ball and kill the clock, but then they scored.'

England's historical visit to Croke Park trumps France's arrival in terms of occasion but O'Gara insists it is crucial the significance of the match does not prove a distraction.

'It's not about the occasion but about our performance,' he said.

'It's hugely important that we concentrate on that and we execute from minute one as opposed to minute 20.'