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Sexton and Kearney poised to face France

Ireland fly-half Jonathan Sexton and full-back Rob Kearney

Jonathan Sexton and Rob Kearney will train fully on Tuesday as they bid to prove their fitness for Ireland’s Six Nations clash with France this weekend.

Sexton has been out of action since suffering a calf injury during Leinster’s Champions Cup draw with Castres last month, but the fly-half could make his comeback at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.

Kearney was withdrawn late in Ireland’s record 63-10 rout of Italy and there were reports that the bicep injury the full-back sustained in Rome could keep him out of the rest of the tournament.

However, Ireland team manager Paul Dean has given a positive update on the influential duo.

Dean said on Monday: “Everybody looks good to fully train tomorrow. Johnny Sexton will play a part in training today, but will train fully tomorrow.

“Rob Kearney continues to make good progress, he did some contact work today and he will train fully tomorrow.  I’m happy to report that everything is positive for this week.”

Jones also revealed that scrum-half Conor Murray will train fully this week after his workload was managed following the hammering of Italy.

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SK 1 hour ago
The times are changing, and some Six Nations teams may be left behind

If you are building the same amount of rucks but kicking more is that a bad thing? Kicks are more constestable than ever, fans want to see a contest, is that a bad thing? kicks create broken field situations where counter attacks from be launched from or from which turnover ball can be exploited, attacks are more direct and swift rather than multiphase in nature, is that a bad thing? What is clear now is that a hybrid approach is needed to win matches. You can still build phases but you need to play in the right areas so you have to kick well. You also have to be prepared to play from turnover ball and transition quickly from the kick contest to attack or set your defence quickly if the aerial contest is lost. Rugby seems healthy to me. The rules at ruck time means the team in possession is favoured and its more possible than ever to play a multiphase game. At the same time kicking, set piece, kick chase and receipt seems to be more important than ever. Teams can win in so many ways with so many strategies. If anything rugby resembles footballs 4-4-2 era. Now football is all about 1 striker formations with gegenpress and transition play vs possession heavy teams, fewer shots, less direct play and crossing. Its boring and it plods along with moves starting from deep, passing goalkeepers and centre backs and less wing play. If we keep tinkering with the laws rugby will become a game with more defined styles and less variety, less ways to win effectively and less varied body types and skill sets.

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