Irish fans table Sexton 'cherry-picking' conspiracy theory as part of arrogant move by Schmidt
In the wake of Japan’s seismic upset of the well-fancied Ireland side, a number of Irish fans have moved to blame injured flyhalf Jonathan Sexton, questioning why he wasn’t on the pitch for the match and suggesting voluntary resting was at play.
Sexton was left out of the matchday squad by Joe Schmidt and his coaching staff after picking up a hamstring complaint in the match against Scotland last week. In the match, Sexton gave up goal-kicking duties to halves partner Conor Murray.
‘Johnny is never happy about being left out,’ coach Joe Schmidt explained during the week.
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‘He got a little mileage against Scotland and we thought about bringing him off the bench, but it’s a case of being confident in the squad.
Schmidt went with the unproven Jack Carty in just his second international start after debuting in the August warm-up matches while Munster outhalf Joey Carbery filled the bench spot.
Some Irish fans are convinced that Sexton was rested as part of a ploy by Schmidt to protect his star 10 from playing in meaningless matches where he could be potentially injured, calling it ‘serious arrogance’.
https://twitter.com/dunleavymike51/status/1177917556407115781
The people saying the reason Johnny Sexton didn't play today was because he was injured don't actually believe that, do they?! They're hardly that naive?! #JPNvIRE #RWC2019
— Peter McNamara (@PeterMcNamara_) September 28, 2019
Ireland is currently a shadow of the team that won the Six Nations and resting Johnny Sexton was just disrespectful to the Japanese!! #RWC2019 #JPNvIRE
— Ketse, The Manelisi (@ManelisiKetse) September 28, 2019
Good thing Johnny Sexton was rested for the important games. Joe Schmidt, you've done it again
— Shane Stapleton (@ShaneSaint) September 28, 2019
https://twitter.com/PhillySteak92/status/1177873896156143616
Serious arrogance from Joe Schmidt to rest Sexton for this game. Humiliating. #JAPvIRE @JohnnySexton #RWC2019
— John Carlisle (@dontbethatguyJC) September 28, 2019
https://twitter.com/nickaghost/status/1177907495819513861
Stand-in outhalf Jack Carty was influential in Ireland’s first two tries, coming off the back of smartly placed kicks while the side enjoyed a penalty advantage. Although he forgave an automatic three points trying a quick cross-field kick from a penalty that ended up in touch with intended target Keith Earls.
When asked about whether he regrets not playing Johnny Sexton, Schmidt said he ‘didn’t want to make the same mistake again’ in not using his full squad like in 2015.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B281c_TAMdo/
“I don’t think you ever regret utilising your squad because we were here four years ago and we kind of didn’t use the squad.
“We didn’t want to make that mistake again,” said Schmidt.
“I thought he [Carty] controlled the first half pretty well but once we came under pressure on the back of some penalties they got that field position.”
Related reaction
Shizuoka was repeat of Cardiff 2015 for Sexton-less Ireland
The Rugby Pod reflect on Scotland’s opening performance:
Comments on RugbyPass
Quite right. Punish the time wasters. Its BS these time delays for non-injuries. The Boks have been using it for years now to slow down opposition and now its a scourge on the game. Put players like DeGroot on the sideline and restart play immediately. Watch how 5-6 min to fix your boots quickly becomes 1-2 minutes. Better still how about some personal professional management and you check the conditions/turf beforehand and get yourself better prepared. It might even help your team.
1 Go to commentsWhat drivel. Rugby as a contact sport should not be further diminished by crying over legal hard tackles. Take on the line? Be ready to take the hit. This is PC nonsense.
2 Go to commentsGregor Paul is going to be proved totally wrong. The Crusaders will get in the top 8 and are capable of winning this comp. The return of magnificent captain and player Scott Barrett on Friday was huge. There are a number of players returning and Ethan Blackadder showed huge progression in only his third game back. Christian Lio-Willie has added a new dimension , these two’s combination with Cullen Grace was fantastic. This builds depth when you have outstanding players like Tom Christie and Dom Gardiner also available. The tight five improved ten fold and this is with Tamaiti Williams and Codie Taylor being back.Others are set to return. Johnny McNicoll on his return home has been a revelation. Paul can dismiss Fridays win by the Crusaders as much as he likes and he will prove very popular in this country in doing so. But he will be proved wrong , Rob Penney and his coaching team will have the last laugh.
7 Go to commentsI haven’t seen or heard to many whinging about Finau quite the opposite. The TMO’s have reviewed each time and taken no action, so if they have now been alerted it’s not from people whinging The player comes flying out of the line and launches himself at the attacker so it is probably ruled as a committed tackle, but at what point does it move to tackling a player without the ball Time will tell
2 Go to commentsThis cracked media record of aligning success or failure on head coaches is remarkable. Using the crusaders past history as an example, a more sensible observation and analysis could be that the recent head coaches had inherited a extremely successful combination of players linked to their traditional historical support of the Canterbury people. That period ended this year when the new coach was introduced to virtually a new team. And in a year where other franchises have grown much stronger than their respective past, it was always an anticipated reality that the coach and his new crusader team were up against it. Therefore, I humbly believe that unlike some commentators present, I laud coach Penny and the team for their efforts to date and I am sure given another term and with Canterbury behind them they will be riding high once more. Strange all this coming from me who lives in Taupo and a one eyed chiefs supporter. Can't wait for all future chiefs and crusader games!
7 Go to commentsGrt bench player..keep him there..
3 Go to commentsA Springbok 2-0 win: haha told you we were champions now shut up An Irish 2-0 win: the referee was under orders from world rugby to cheat us but luckily we don’t care because this is part of Rassie’s grand world Cup plan.
112 Go to commentsI hope they didn’t pay Jones fee?
2 Go to commentsTo be fair, the teams he's had to put out are reminiscent of those available to Gatland during his horrible run at the Chiefs in late 2020. Anyway, he's only got a two year contract and Wellingtonian Tamati Ellison will be ready by then, as will a lot of talented youngsters (like the Chiefs Gatland blooded). The Crusaders are planning for the long term.
7 Go to commentsGreat to see more community spending leading to higher participation in the community. It's a long road but that's a good first step.
2 Go to commentsPoetic justice for trying to sell him to Australia as another kiwi saviour coach, not ! Deans was just as bad actually but McCaw and Carter covered up for him. That’s why they didn’t want him as All Black coach, even after Graeme Henry’s bumbling effort in 2007.
7 Go to commentsSACK HIM !
7 Go to commentsSafas are so triggered by Ireland. 3 consecutive losses, incl RWC. 8 losses out of last 12 Tests. Always excuses, of course, with Bok fans. Now Rassie with his “88%” nonsense, the Claytons Excuse is an embarrassment to Bok teams of the past when every test mattered. Their fickle mojo will be on edge for the Ireland tour. Have the referees been appointed yet ? They will need security. Have WR laid out strict guidelines for TMO’s and replays on the stadium screens ? Will the constant stoppages from Bok forwards for cramps and bootlaces be tolerated ? We’re not talking a dominant Springbok team here, they won the LOTTO Cup and they know it whether they admit it or not. The Disney doco has their fans positively fermenting internally, its going to be a nasty hangover if they get beaten on home soil. What will the excuses be then……
112 Go to commentsGreat role model.
2 Go to commentsOne significant tell, not a single Waratahs player stopped to whinge to the ref about Finau’s tackle. They got on with playing the game. Great tackle.
8 Go to commentsWouldn’t be a bad move if Ireland pulled into SA with a young side. Particularly in Pretoria. Invaluable experience getting thumped in the bosveld.
112 Go to commentsIreland. The Princess Diana of Rugby. I never cheered so much for a team as i did for the All Blacks in that QF.
112 Go to commentsWill be great to see the Leinster first XV back in action again after their cotton wool time…
1 Go to commentsLooked up Grant Constable on google and reply was doppelgänger for Ben Smith
112 Go to commentsIt is so good that we now all get excited and debate who is best and emotionally get involved. We all back our teams which is great. Up until about 15-20 years ago, NZ was basically on its own, and then Saffa, Aussie and sometimes French and English were there. We now have at least 5-6 really top sides and another 4 who keep improving. This is so healthy. So we should not resort to rubbish comments and unhealthy debate, but rather all be chuffed that the product we watch is not competitive, exciting and often uncertain. It would be so good if World Rugger could find a way to align the rules to professional players as well as spectators. Live rugby games are SO boring as there is SO much down time as we wait for refs and TMOs and whoever else to look at every small event going back endless phases with the hope of eventually find a minute infringement to then decide cancel what was a wonderful try. This is the ultimate cork back in the bottle moment and feels like every balloon is always being popped. Come on- we must be better with the rules.
112 Go to comments