Sexton: 'Ireland's loss to Japan is a blessing in disguise'
Johnny Sexton has branded Ireland’s stunning loss to Japan a “blessing in disguise” because it happened in the World Cup’s pool stages.
Fly-half Sexton has declared himself fit after a thigh issue to face Russia in Kobe on Thursday, where Ireland will battle to set their Pool A campaign back on track.
Chris Farrell has been ruled out of facing the Russians due to concussion, while Robbie Henshaw remains a long-shot to feature as he continues to battle a hamstring problem.
Ireland suffered one of the all-time great World Cup shocks in Saturday’s 19-12 loss to hosts Japan in Shizuoka – but Sexton insisted Joe Schmidt’s men must be thankful their hefty defeat did not occur in the knockout stages.
Sexton was at pains to explain how Ireland swept through the pool stages in 2011 and 2015 only to be dumped out both times in the quarter-finals – by Wales in New Zealand eight years ago and by Argentina four years back.
The fallout from Ireland's historic loss to Japan continues. https://t.co/vxHx5PU6X0 #JPNvIRE
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 28, 2019
“The only blessing in disguise is that in the last two World Cups I’ve been involved in, we’ve not cruised through the group, but we’ve had everything go our way in the pool stages,” said Sexton.
“And then we’ve had the day we had yesterday in the quarter-final. And we’d be going home today.
“So the great thing now is that we’ve got the rest of the pool to get things together.
“We know to a certain extent things are in our hands if we can win the last two games and score a number of tries that we can definitely qualify for the quarter-final.
“First or second place is out of our control, so we won’t worry about that.
“But it’s up to us now to put in two big performances and hopefully get ourselves in to a quarter-final. And we know that if we can get there we’ve got a chance.
“We’ve responded really well in terms of the other recent setbacks.
The Shock of Shizuoka ??
How many of you went through this rollercoaster of emotions? ??@JRFURugby ??#RWC2019 #JPNvIRE #RWCShizuoka pic.twitter.com/UFvTGxn1hd
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) September 28, 2019
“At the start of the Six Nations we turned things around, had a brilliant performance against France.
“Things went badly against England (in August’s record 57-15 loss at Twickenham) but we beat Wales back to back and started with a bang against Scotland.
“A five-game winning run now would be great, that would do nicely.”
Sexton missed Ireland’s stunning loss to Japan due to a thigh knock suffered in the 27-3 bonus-point thrashing of Scotland that opened his side’s World Cup account.
The 34-year-old insisted however that he is now ready to get back to action, and is itching to help the Irish squad move past their damaging defeat by the Brave Blossoms.
Ireland flew into their second Pool A clash with Japan intent on taking a giant leap towards quarter-final qualification, only to be struck down by boss Jamie Joseph’s inspired Brave Blossoms.
While Ireland ought to ease past Russia without issue, Sexton is desperate to get back into action as soon as possible.
“One thing about this team is that we back the squad, the 31 guys, we said that when we picked the squad, everyone here is ready to play,” said Sexton.
“I picked up that strain against Scotland, and I wasn’t going to train fully Monday, Tuesday.
“The preparation time was so short the guys made the decision for me to sit this one out.
Disaster for Ireland as too many of their players fall below the necessary standard against Japan
https://t.co/l0W6NSXNMr— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 28, 2019
“You want to play every game but hopefully I can pay back the squad this week and next week too.”
Centre Farrell’s absence against Russia could push Bundee Aki back into service, with the Connacht midfielder expected to be available after his own head injury issues.
“Chris Farrell has a confirmed concussion, so he won’t recover in time for Thursday,” said Ireland forwards coach Simon Easterby.
“Rob Kearney passed his HIA two so he’s in that process.
“Tadhg Furlong came back onto the pitch, so he’s fine as well. Those were the three obvious ones from an HIA perspective.
“Robbie (Henshaw) ran really well yesterday but we obviously have to take a view on his progress when we get back to training; he’s doing really but we’ll have to see.”
Ireland have also drafted Ulster’s Jordi Murphy into their World Cup ranks, to replace Jack Conan, who will miss the rest of the tournament with a foot fracture.
“Jack’s a quality rugby player and can break the game up, he’s a bit of a freak with the ball in hand so he’s a real loss,” said Easterby.
“But we are fortunate that Jordi Murphy is joining us, he gives us great coverage especially as he can play anywhere across the back-row.”
Joe Schmidt on Ireland’s defeat to Japan
Comments on RugbyPass
Big difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
1 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
30 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to comments