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Sexton explains last week's first Gatland meeting since Lions snub

By PA
Johnny Sexton with Warren Gatland on the 2017 Lions tour (Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Ireland captain Johnny Sexton has insisted he does not hold a grudge against Wales head coach Warren Gatland regarding his painful British and Irish Lions snub. Out-half Sexton was devastated to be overlooked for the 2021 tour of South Africa and he will come up against Lions boss Gatland for the first time since then in this Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations opener in Cardiff.

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Sexton has impressively responded to that major disappointment, leading his country to a Six Nations Triple Crown, a historic series success in New Zealand, and the top of the world rankings during the past 12 months. The 37-year-old, who on Wednesday trained without a face mask for the first time since undergoing cheekbone surgery last month, met Gatland at last week’s Six Nations launch event in London and explained there is no lingering hostility.

“It’s something that you never get back which is why it hurts so badly at the time,” the two-time Lions tourist told a press conference at Ireland’s training camp in Portugal. “But people make their decisions and, at the time, they probably make them for what they think are the right reasons.

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“I met him at the launch and there was no animosity or anything. I shook hands and said hello. I got on really well with him on the two previous tours, which is probably why it hurt so much. But it is what it is. It’s over now, it was a long time ago.”

Gatland opted to pick Dan Biggar, Finn Russell and Owen Farrell as his No10 options against the Springboks, before calling up Marcus Smith as cover. The New Zealander, who returned for a second stint in charge of Wales in December, admitted this week that Sexton had probably proved him wrong with his subsequent fine form.

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He also claimed this weekend’s Principality Stadium clash is a free hit for the hosts due to Ireland being overwhelming favourites, an assessment which was dismissed outright by Sexton. “Maybe that is what he is saying but he certainly hasn’t picked a team that would suggest it is a free hit because he has picked such an experienced team,” said Sexton, who is fit and available to start following his recent facial injury.

“He has brought back some older guys that would suggest he is targeting this game. If he was looking at a free hit, he would pick all the young lads, give it a lash and see if they can get through to the World Cup. We are definitely not preparing like that. We are preparing for a full-on Test match in the Principality Stadium which is an incredibly tough place to go and win. That is all we have been talking about and preparing for.”

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Bull Shark 30 minutes ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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