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'If we win our last three games we're guaranteed a Triple Crown'
Veteran captain Johnny Sexton will use the disappointment of missing Ireland’s gripping Guinness Six Nations defeat to France as motivation to reach next year’s World Cup.
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The influential fly-half, who admits every Test match could be his last, is pushing for a recall for Sunday’s clash with Italy after being a frustrated spectator for the round-two loss in Paris due to a minor hamstring issue.
Ireland are scheduled to return to Stade de France for up to five matches at the 2023 World Cup, including pool stage meetings with South Africa and Scotland.
Sexton was engulfed in a raucous atmosphere in the French capital on February 12 and is determined to go back there for one final shot at the sport’s top competition.
“Every opportunity you get to play in the green jersey when you’re my age, you know it could be your last,” said the 36-year-old, who has 102 Ireland caps.
“It could be your last of that fixture; I hope it’s not my last in the Stade de France as there are some pretty important World Cup games there that I would love to be a part of.
“That’s not what I was thinking at the time. I was disappointed to miss such a big game, the biggest game we’ve had in a long time.
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“During the game, I tried to soak in the atmosphere, feel what it’s like in the stadium and use it as motivation to get there (the World Cup).
“We’ve got two pool games, we’ve got a potential quarter-final, potential semi-final, final all in that stadium, so I tried to soak in as much of it as I could.”
Ireland’s Grand Slam dreams and nine-match winning streak were halted by the 30-24 loss, which put Les Bleus in pole position for championship glory.
After hosting the Italians in Dublin this weekend, Andy Farrell’s men – who began by defeating Wales – travel to England on March 12 before completing the tournament at home to Scotland a week later.
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Sexton, who is hoping to regain the number 10 jersey from deputy Joey Carbery, has not given up on the title and is targeting three consecutive victories which would seal a Triple Crown – victories over England, Scotland and Wales.
“We spoke about that if we win our last three games we’re guaranteed a Triple Crown,” he said.
“I suppose I came from an era where they were winning Triple Crowns for fun but then when you look at the history, I think we’ve won nine Triple Crowns (since start of Five Nations), which is fairly few when you think about it over the last hundred years.
“That would be a great thing and it’s guaranteed if we can win the last three.
“Of course, we’ll give ourselves a great shot at the title if we win our last three; France have to go to Scotland this week and then Wales and play a good England team in the Stade de France as well.
“It’s not over but we have to hold up our end of the bargain. It’s all to play for but it’s all to do as well.”
Italy will run out at the Aviva Stadium bidding to avoid a 35th successive Six Nations loss.
With the championship standings finely poised, Sexton admits securing a bonus-point win and boosting the team’s points difference is important.
“It’s something we’re mindful of from the get-go, from the first game,” he said.
“We know that every point will count but you can’t get too drawn into that.
“How we do it is getting our performances right, getting our processes right and then going out and executing and if we can do that then the rest looks after itself.”
Comments on RugbyPass
> It would be best described as an elegant solution to what was potentially going to be a significant problem for new All Blacks coach Scott Robertson. It is a problem the mad population of New Zealand will have to cope with more and more as All Blacks are able to continue their careers in NZ post RWCs. It will not be a problem for coaches, who are always going to start a campaign with the captain for the next WC in mind. > Cane, despite his warrior spirit, his undoubted commitment to every team he played for and unforgettable heroics against Ireland in last year’s World Cup quarter-final, was never unanimously admired or respected within New Zealand while he was in the role. Neither was McCaw, he was considered far too passive a captain and then out of form until his last world cup where everyone opinions changed, just like they would have if Cane had won the WC. > It was never easy to see where Cane, or even if, he would fit into Robertson’s squad given the new coach will want to be building a new-look team with 2027 in mind. > Cane will win his selections on merit and come the end of the year, he’ll sign off, he hopes, with 100 caps and maybe even, at last, universal public appreciation for what was a special career. No, he won’t. Those returning from Japan have already earned the right to retain their jersey, it’s in their contract. Cane would have been playing against England if he was ready, and found it very hard to keep his place. Perform, and they keep it however. Very easy to see where Cane could have fit, very hard to see how he could have accomplished it choosing this year as his sabbatical instead of 2025, and that’s how it played out (though I assume we now know what when NZR said they were allowing him to move his sabbatical forward and return to NZ next year, they had actually agreed to simply select him for the All Blacks from overseas, without any chance he was going to play in NZ again). With a mammoth season of 15 All Black games they might as well get some value out of his years contract, though even with him being of equal character to Richie, I don’t think they should guarantee him his 100 caps. That’s not what the All Blacks should be about. He absolutely has to play winning football.
2 Go to commentswhat’s happening to Ian Peel?
1 Go to commentsAs a Crusaders fan , so disappointed , again.But I think Fergus Burke was all class for the Crusaders in his first game since October last year. Fletcher Newell , was so good at prop. Johnny McNicoll has been gold since returning from Wales. Noah Hotham brilliant , in a coming of age second season for the Crusaders.Jone Rova did really well at centre. The end of the game was tough.Sevu Reece , what a game/season in tough times.
1 Go to commentsFellas a balloon
3 Go to commentsBlues B team on display and made no race of it. By far the best team in SR with the Hurricanes barely getting past the winning post. Up the Blues 💙
6 Go to commentsWould be amazing to have Servette Genève reaching this level
3 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can't buy a win this season. Surely Penney's contract won't be renewed. There's still enough talent in the squad that they oughta be winning more.
1 Go to commentsABs captain for 23 seasons. Decent record. Surely nobody will surpass it. Legend. But alas a typo…
2 Go to commentsJust FYI Rugbypass, I for one am tired of your clickbait titles and thumbnails and will be clicking them no longer. Good day.
1 Go to commentsI think Farrell despite all of the stick he gets in the media is still one of if not the best fly half in the world. He is literally the full package. He can kick one of the best in the world, probably has the best defensive game of a fly half in the world and if he wants to he can run, take contact and find an offload to keep the pace of the attack. I dont know why he isnt spoken more about still being one of the best in the world with the likes of dupont. Farrell is the ultimate captain and team leader and is experienced- he has been in nearly any situation you can think of. I still believe due to these reasons that he is England’s best ever player and is still one of the best players in the world.
48 Go to commentsBlues are dominating up front and that’s been a long time coming. They have won the up front confrontation which is where canes, hilanders and act brumbies are also strong.
6 Go to commentsJust watched brumbies v safas game sadly not a show in he’ll thryr anywhere near quarters or semi contention. Admittedly some issues around new comers bot what stands out for me is coaching management, poor game planning and accuracy.
5 Go to commentsOne tough SOB!
16 Go to commentsI’ve put on 4/5 kilos since the beginning of the season too. Not good kilos. Bad kilos.
6 Go to commentsSurely there’s a ‘no knobheads’ policy ?
3 Go to commentsWallaroos have no chance of beating the Black Ferns unless Canada upsets them in Christchurch tomorrow but I doubt that as well!
1 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Could the victim do a course to reverse the long term CTE damage from the cheapshot?
2 Go to commentsTruely great player. In social media and opinion pieces he was held up and flogged for the results. People wanted someone to crucify, and he was the captain. He was still an immense presence respected by his peers. His battles with Siya Kolisi belong up with with Collins vs Burger in my opinion. Unlucky to be carded in the final, but I don’t agree that his red card was the defining moment. Not when you look at the dominant performances of the Springboks (PSDT in particular.) I think Cane should be remembered for the spirit and physicality that is special to test rugby.
16 Go to commentsSam was the man until he got injured .
16 Go to comments_Crusaders versus Leinster _at the moment might be a rout! But I would like to see the Blues play Toulouse, the Hurricanes front up against Stade Francais, and the Chiefs go against Toulon.
157 Go to comments