Jerry Flannery slated the "appalling" treatment of Ronan O'Gara as the Ireland fly-half confronts the most challenging period of his career with the Irish now needing to beat Argentina to stay at the World Cup. Rumours of gambling and marital problems have dogged O'Gara for the past year but only surfaced in print last week during the build-up for Friday's match with France, won 25-3 by the hosts. O'Gara has branded the slurs as "despicable" and "nonsense" and Flannery yesterday rallied to his Munster team-mate's side. "Ronan's a friend of mine and he's disgusted with what's gone on," said the Ireland hooker. "To see one of our mates treated like that is appalling."