Johnny Sexton: Desperate to tour with the Lions
Ireland fly-half Johnny Sexton has issued a challenge to his side's younger players to make an impact in this year's Six Nations.
After finishing third in last year's tournament, Sexton admits that Ireland are going through a transition phase.
"Playing with guys like Brian O'Driscoll has been an honour for me and I'd put a lot of other players in that bracket - you learn so much from these guys," he told Sky Sports.
"But it's time now for the younger guys to come in and start taking ownership of the team.
"Those guys earned their reputation by producing in an Ireland jersey year in year out - the younger guys, we've produced on occasion but we haven't done it consistently and that's what we need to do now going forward.
"People probably think I'm a new boy because I look about 15! But I'd say I'm somewhere in the middle - I've just turned 27 so it's up to people like me to take charge of the team.
"I found it hard when I first came in because Ronan O'Gara had been the outside-half in that team for 10 years and I wasn't sure whether the guys would listen to me in the same way they'd listened to him - they are the kind of doubts you have when you come in."
Sexton is the favourite to wear the number 10 jersey for the British and Irish Lions in the Test series against Australia, but he does not consider his selection as a far gone conclusion.
"It's something I desperately want to go on but it's not worth thinking about right now," added the Leinster pivot.
"I need to concentrate on my week-to-week performances.
"People say it's the pinnacle - and it is. Only the best players get picked and it will be a massive honour for anyone who is picked.
"But then every player in Europe will have that as a goal - it's going to be a tough thing to do, to get on that tour. But for me, it's about trying not to think about it.
"The South Africa tour - the 'Living with the Lions' documentary, I must have watched that about a hundred times and I remember Brian's try against Australia.
"I watched the last tour to SA a bit differently because by then I was a professional rugby player and envious that I wasn't involved - it seems like such a good place to be and an amazing trip to be part of."
Comments
leinster_goy says...
@blametheref
great to see you back. where have you been?!
Posted 19:54 14th January 2013
blametheref says...
Some of the comments here are bizarre to say the least, stupid to say the most...few on these boards would be able to balance an opinion of a player even if they had a spirit level to help them. Most comments are based on home allegiances or North v South bias
If some of you cannot appreciate that J. Sexton is one of the foremost running/passing attacking fly halves in world rugby there's something lacking in your take on the game. While on the other side of the equation he's a very solid defender, and has got a reliable boot as against what some may think.
In world terms and in my humble opinion, Sexton would be my choice to improve the backline attack of the following countries: France, England, South Africa, Australia, Argentina, Wales, Scotland, Italy and a few more.
As regards Heineken Cup rugby, he has no peers I can think of other than the fact Owen Farrell, Nick Evans and one or two other 10's are marginally handier with the boot, but that's about it.
We heard the case of Quade Cooper 16 months ago on these boards as the best 10 in the world...at the time I argued that he couldn't defend, was risky/flakey and that Australia would be better off with a player like Sexton...Cooper's star fell rapidly following that match up with Sexton, was I surprised? Not at all!
Posted 13:21 14th January 2013
melkdave says...
All this Lions talk about Sexton ,is premature imo.He isnt a shoe in espically to start the tests by any means ,atm he has potential and only potential,He still has to prove he can do the job at international leval consistently imo.Flood .Farral.Burns and Bigger / Laidlaw still imo,can displace him from even getting on the plane atm.His going to need a good 6Ns to cermet his place along with those just mentioned,lets not get to carried away atm ok..Also Jackson is fast pushing him for the irish jersey imo,,so he may not even be Irelands number one come the 6Ns.Personnally i think ROG will be allowed to finally retire from international rugby,as he wanted too after the RWC,if not it shows DK still isnt 100% sure on Sexton imo.
Posted 12:58 04th January 2013
kennyisgay says...
Overated... Sad state of the game up north when such an average player is a shoe in for the lions.
Posted 12:00 03rd January 2013
new_j4a says...
@Leinster-goy, LOL...."Sexyboy has been the best fly-half in the NH for the past 3 and a half years, and is fast approaching best in the world " LOL again! He would not make the top 3 FHs in New Zealand, not the top spot in Oz, not the top 3 in South Africa, not the top 2 in France, nor the top in England. He does make it into the top 10 world wide (barely), but that is his limit......he doesn't have the raw intelligence to go further.... "3 Heino winners medals!"....hardly the credentials needed to be the world's best?
Just over a year ago, when Ireland was put to the sword by Wales in the RWC2011 QF, Sexton wasn't even the best FH in Ireland: Here's what PR said: "For Ireland: It was always going to be a close call as to which of Jonathan Sexton or Ronan OżGara won the battle for the number ten jersey. OżGara has seen off the challenge of his younger team-mate...."
Really now, we all love the Irish sense of humour and our vastly inflated view of our worth and prospects....but Jonathon Sexton will never be the best FH in the world and will only be the best in Ireland till we import someone with more talent and a better rugby brain.
Posted 11:52 03rd January 2013
liam2me says...
He would need to step up himself first, he's not proven himself at international level yet. Jackson and JJ Hanrahan will be the future Irish 10s, it's just a matter of how long!
Posted 11:08 03rd January 2013
Norm says...
He is right. And it is encouraging to hear him speaking like this. 2 things he needs to do himself, one is what he is doing, stand up and take responsibility and ownership of the national team, the second is to get his kicking sorted. It is much better than it was, however while he may be the best overall 10 in the NH, he is far from the best kicker from the tee. His shortcoming there could as heart of oak said, lead to compromising other positions.
Best 10 for the lions and for ireland, but work to do.
Posted 11:00 03rd January 2013
carpelone says...
leinster_goy
Your faith in Sexton is really moving. On his good days, he could be a contender in the NH, On his frequent bad days (see the games against Wales in 2012 and 2011), he makes his team lose.
Even OZ can seriously smash the Lions, so called.
Posted 10:37 03rd January 2013
Nicholas41 says...
Poor geography, that boy...
Posted 01:06 03rd January 2013
melkdave says...
Well you really have to agree with hm ,time for the old gaurd of ROG,BOD and POC ect to make a dignifined exit,from international rugby.The big question is D.Kidney ready to say goodbye to his darl;ings,so far that has seemed doughtfull.,but we will see.
Posted 18:59 02nd January 2013
leinster_goy says...
as i've said before: Sexyboy has been the best fly-half in the NH for the past 3 and a half years, and is fast approaching best in the world (3 Heino winners medals in his back pocket at 27 - nuffers said). he has the world at his feet and the scariest thing of all is that he hasn't even reached his peak yet
leading the B&I Lions to a series win this summer would surely cement his place in the pantheon of true rugby greats. if it was up to me he'd be captain for the 2013 tour
Posted 17:07 02nd January 2013
paddy91317 says...
Wat are odds on galtand making sexton loins captain... probably the only nailed down starter for the 3 tests at the minute. Gatland has said he has chosen his caprain and its not an obvious choice
Posted 16:56 02nd January 2013
99call says...
We are in a transition phase and I think we have enough young talent to not have a serious slump in the next few years as players get experience. But Kidney needs to trust these guys and pick them and not just role the same old names out based on past reputations
This would be my side of the next few years
Healy, Best/Strauss, Bent, Touhy, Henderson, OBrien, Heaslip, Henry, Murray, Sexton, Bowe, Luke Marshall, Earls, Gilroy, Kearney
With Fitzgerald, Zebo, Kearny Jnr, Paul Marshall, Jackson all pushing for places we're not in too bad shape and there are plenty of names you could list aswell along with the experience of Ryan, Ferris, McCarthy, Ross etc
looking good i think
Posted 16:24 02nd January 2013
heart_of_oak says...
I reckon he's currently the favourite for the fly half role for the Lions but for me, his kicking is a concern. I can see Sexton being picked at FH and Halfpenny at full back because of Sexton's uncertain kicking skills. This would rob us of either Kearney or Brown at FB which would be a pity.
If only Sexton can be more reliable then I think he'll be a more complete fly half. Freddie Burns might well get a look in for the Lions too but we haven't seen enough of him to be sure. If Burns is picked for the 6N, it might be a different story. However I expect England's conservative selectors to go for Owen Farrell and Burns possibly getting on to the subs bench. Flood's days as England's fly half could be numbered.
Posted 16:09 02nd January 2013