Sexton warns of 'distractions and hype' before Champions Cup final
Leinster fly-half Johnny Sexton is putting aside “distractions and hype” in the build-up to the European Champions Cup final against Racing 92 on Saturday.
The Irish province will match Toulouse’s record of four titles if they triumph at San Mames, with Sexton having featured in their triumphs of 2009, 2011 and 2012.
Leinster, whose last trophy came in the Pro12 in 2014, will be captained by Isa Nacewa in his final European match before heading into retirement, while Fergus McFadden (hamstring) and Sean O’Brien (shoulder) miss out due to injury.
Ireland international Sexton is keen to avoid focusing too heavily on the scenarios facing individuals in the team and hone in on getting the job done in Bilbao.
“Your mind wanders during the week, it can take you different places,” he said at a news conference on Friday.
“Why do you want to win the game? Is it for Isa in his last European game? For the injured players? But none of that really matters. It’s about performing.
“World-class and a game breaker. We saw that against Munster and he’s had an outstanding 12 months. As a team we need to be on our toes to watch him."
Isa Nacewa's ? on Teddy Thomas. #ChampionsCup #Bilbao2018 pic.twitter.com/3iRtMaGwLC
— Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) May 11, 2018
“You can get to dreaming and thinking about things you shouldn’t. You’ve got to use it as motivation a little bit but then park them.
“If you think about the last time we won the trophy and how long it’s been, that’s a distraction. You have to go out there and play. We have to top our quarter-final, semi-final performances because we know we’re going to have to go to another level to win the game.
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Video: Johnny Sexton discusses nerves ahead of the game
“Ultimately, if you want to feel fulfilled at the end of the game you have to play well as an individual, as a team and you have to win. And it’s in that order of importance: take care of your own job, do your best for the team and hopefully the result will follow.
“I get nervous the week of a final. You wake up the week of a big game and you feel different. Sleep can be a struggle, nerves can be a struggle, but you’ve just got to try focus your attention on getting what’s important right. On putting all your energy into that and leaving all the distractions and hype to one side.”
Racing have named Dan Carter among the replacements with Pat Lambie starting at fly-half, and Leinster coach Leo Cullen – who is aiming to become the first individual to win the Champions Cup as a player and coach – highlighted the contrasting styles in club development.
“When you’ve got Dan Carter on the bench, it says it all really as for what Racing have built over the last seven or eight years and what they’ve assembled in terms of an expensive bunch of players,” said Cullen.
"It seems like a long time ago, 2012. But there are definitely things that I remember from the preparation leading into those games that we’ve tried to look at this week." #ChampionsCup #Bilbao2018 pic.twitter.com/ymglhkSBBp
— Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) May 11, 2018
“We have to do things slightly differently in Leinster where we produce guys from within mainly and bring in a couple of key signings from overseas.
“It’s a clash of styles over how you assemble a squad. We’re under no illusions it’s a very formidable bunch of players we will be up against tomorrow.
“Now it’s about doing the things that have worked to get us here in the first place and hopefully the players can execute it on the day.”
Comments on RugbyPass
A wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
24 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to comments