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The truth behind Johnny Sexton's latest compelling return from injury
Andy Farrell paid tribute on Saturday night to the depths of resilience that Johnny Sexton produced to ensure Ireland got their 2020 Guinness Six Nations off to a winning start.
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The veteran out-half hadn’t played any rugby since a December 7 Champions Cup knee injury at Northampton with Leinster and while all the medical bulletins over the last eight weeks indicated he would definitely be ready to lead his country on February 1, it genuinely wasn’t until Thursday of this week – two days before the championship opener in Dublin – that Farrell accepted his talisman was he was finally fully ready to go.
Sexton made light of his latest comeback which culminated in him scoring all of Ireland’s 19 points in the seven-point victory over the Scots, but his new head coach refused to allow his skipper dilute the extent of the recovery he had gone through, interjecting during the post-match press conference after the veteran downplayed his refusal to give in to his latest winter injury.
“I was rusty,” admitted Sexton about the 56-day lay-off that began when he limped away from the provincial action at Franklin’s Gardens. “It’s tough. When you’re in a brace for three weeks, you can’t do anything and I worked my socks off for three weeks to try and get out for Portugal last week.
“I was able to play a full part in training and it was really just I didn’t train that well at the end off last week, start of this week. But it was good because they way we trained was good preparation for the game. We made a few mistakes but it’s not about me, it’s about the team and all I care about is winning. If I can help with that, that is my job as a ten and I happy with that.”
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Johnny Sexton and Andy Farrell speak with the media following Ireland’s win
Farrell, though, was letting the matter rest there, butting into to continue the line of conversation about a player who wore strapping on his right knee during the game. “I can elaborate on that because he won’t,” said the coach. “He hadn’t done any team training whatsoever, any rugby training whatsoever until we touched down in Portugal (on January 23). How long were you out altogether? Eight, nine weeks? Eight weeks.
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“For him not to touch a ball and not to fight in anger until probably Thursday of this week, that says it all about the man really. To have the pressures of doing something that he passionately wanted to do, to lead his country for the first time and all them new bits that come in around that, and then deal with coming back from such an injury and leading the side like he did, hats off to Johnny. That is a magnificent effort.”
How Andy Farrell's players rated during their first outing with him in charge https://t.co/rjexfYxmYu
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 1, 2020
Sexton played 73 minutes of the Six Nations opener, giving way to Ross Byrne after he had just kicked his team 19-12 clear. He could have played on but Farrell had no qualms about letting his rookie back-up see the win out.
“We trust Ross as well,” he said before getting the name of another of his out-halves mixed up top much amusement. “And Freddie Burns, he is looking great (Billy Burns, his brother). I actually called him Freddie in training as well. It doesn’t go down very well, but he is looking really good as well Billy, Freddie’s brother. We trust them all, genuinely. We want to see people given the chance and flourish out there.”
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3 years ago then Irish U20s No.2 @tadghmcelroy controversially signed for Saracens and was replaced by Ronan Kelleher. Injury and bad luck have left him back on Irish soil and without a pro club.
– @heagneyl finds out he doesn't hold grudges 🇮🇪 #IREvSCOhttps://t.co/CTxIoAW1hD
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 1, 2020
While Farrell was chuffed with how Sexton fared on the injury front, he might have to plan to face Wales minus Garry Ringrose who will need a scan on the hand injury that forced him off at the interval.
Dave Kilcoyne and Caelan Doris also failed their HIAs so there will be changes when Ireland select their 23 for next Saturday’s round two encounter with the defending champions in Dublin.
WATCH: Stuart Hogg faces the media after a tough day for Scotland in Six Nations
Comments on RugbyPass
AI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
25 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
13 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
25 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
13 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
84 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
1 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
13 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
13 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
13 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
13 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
13 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
45 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
58 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to comments