Ex-Ireland star blasts fly-half options as ‘not in the same league’ as Johnny Sexton

A former Ireland star believes that there is no standout replacement for the retired Johnny Sexton.

Head coach Andy Farrell is looking for his next fly-half after the 38-year-old ended his career following the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

Munster’s Jack Crowley is the likely starter against France, while Leinster duo Harry Byrne and Ciaran Frawley have also been named in the wider squad.

It is not helped that Sexton’s back-up for the 2023 Six Nations triumph, Ross Byrne, is currently injured, leaving Farrell short of options for the 2024 tournament.

No one has particularly stepped up following the playmaker’s retirement, and Hugo MacNeill, who represented Ireland on 37 occasions, feels that the head coach will struggle to find a suitable replacement.

“Huge pressure”

“There is huge pressure due to the massive gap Johnny Sexton left,” MacNeill told AFP.

“I cannot think of another Ireland player who retired — with all due respect to Brian O’Driscoll and Paul O’Connell — who both directed and led the game, leaving such huge gaps to fill.”

Although Crowley is favourite to take the jersey, MacNeill is still uncertain as to who will line up at fly-half against France in their Six Nations opener.

“If anyone knows who the number 10 will be, then they are smarter than you or I,” he added.

“Johnny Sexton’s shadow is very much hanging over them. He is not a threat, but he is very much there, not by his own volition, as the last thing he would want is to put pressure on them.

“However, until somebody demonstrates otherwise, the fly-half position will be an issue.

“Great players show up in big moments in big games. Am I completely confident one of them can take the game by the scruff of the neck in the next few weeks? I am not sure.”

Captaincy

The fly-half conundrum was not the only issue for Farrell, with Sexton also acting as captain, often driving the standards in training and during games.

Peter O’Mahony has since taken over the leadership responsibility, a decision MacNeill thinks the Ireland boss has got right.

“Andy Farrell had to replace Sexton as fly-half which, with the best will in the world, none of the options are in the same league, and find an equally inspirational captain,” he said.

“The Irish team is a really good side, but a group of leaders has not emerged yet. Only Peter O’Mahony had shown that quality.

“He opted not to take a risk and named someone who is a proven leader and at the end of his career not the start of it.

“O’Mahony is very well respected, a fine player and is a leader.”

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