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
Safas 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……
66 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.
66 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.
66 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
66 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.
66 Go to comments“upon leaving said establishment I tripped over a stool knocking some bottles into the air and as I fell I accidently dislodged a police officer’s teaser who was passing by on an unrelated matter there by landing on said taser which caused it to discharge 50,000 watts into me. Out of shock I shouted Ireland are going to win the world cup. Upon waking up I apologised for the distress caused by my Ireland comment. The matter is closed. If you wish to pursue this matter may I remind you what I told Wayne Barnes when he sent me off. I AM A BIG ASS MAN”. Or was it “I AM A BIG ASS, MAN” or was it “I AM A BIG ASSMAN”?
2 Go to commentsThe only championship the Boks hold are: Great value for the incompetence of referees during the RWC Moaning endlessly and champions of spewing utterly ignorant 💩 at all times. Displaying the dangers of a third world education End of.
66 Go to commentsSouth Africa and Rassie do a phenomenal job of treating the 4 years in between World Cups as nothing more than a training exercise to build squad depth. The Six Nations money that keeps Irish rugby afloat is unfortunately too important to allow the same approach, and basic population size means we'll never get close to matching the depth of South Africa, England and France. That being said, Irish rugby is in a relatively good place and slowly improving inch by inch. If the other three provinces can pull the finger out and actually develop some players it'd be even better.
66 Go to commentsGood on Clarke for taking on the criticism and addressing his deficiencies, principally his laziness.
2 Go to comments“It is the people’s favourite against the actual favourite. It is the people’s champions against the actual champions. I’m joking, but it’s going to be a fantastic series.” Why did Darcy make that joke knowing it would be used as click bait? Why did RP headline it as a serious comment? Anyway, the tired comment isn’t very astute. SA players may have played more games etc. Darcy over estimated as a pundit.
66 Go to commentsNot sure Frisch will ever make the French team with Depoortère and Costes waiting in the wings to take over from Danty and Fickou.
1 Go to commentsThe Irish are tired and the Boks are old. The test series won't confirm who is best in the world, it will confirm which team needs to pursue the task of rebuilding with the most urgency.
66 Go to commentsGrant, the first time I have seen an article written by you. Maybe I have missed your previous stuff. These days all professional players effectively play a common season so all top players are equally tired, or rested. That is the job of the coaching ticket to build squad depth and juggle resources so players are ‘ fresh’ when the big games come. Possibly Ireland are less inclined to juggle squad compared to Rassie, who is prepared to take the risk to rest players as well as build depth throughout the year so come WC he has a full squad, experienced and rested enough to win 7 games. After all, to win WC you need to get through the tournament and then win the final big 3 games. Ireland should try and build a bit so come final 3 they are ready. So far only played final 1(QF). I am so looking forward to the Irish tour. Hopefully Rassie has enough time to align his guys, as he draws them from across the globe, and not from 2 sides locally( eg Leinster, Munster). No excuses, going to be exciting.
66 Go to commentsIn football, teams get fined and sometimes docked points for deliberately fielding weakened teams yet Leinster can pretty much do as they please with no comebacks. Could it be because Ireland run the URC? Could it be that Ireland run the ERC? Whichever it is, it stinks!!
6 Go to commentsIreland are only the People’s Champions in Irish eyes. The rest of the world do not care for them very much because of attitudes of people like Gordon, Ferris, Best, Jackman…I could go on!!
66 Go to commentsNot sure how Karl Dickson can ever ref a Quins game, he played for the club for 8 years as understudy to Care and is still close friends with half the team
3 Go to commentsAre bookies taking bets on how many times Vunipola's eventual statement will use the term “elders"? My money is on at least 4 times.
4 Go to comments