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'There is a fine line between what is fair and isn't... Johnny isn't going to change his ways'

By Online Editors
Johnny Sexton had to shrug off his latest injury episode during the Six Nations with Ireland (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Johnny Sexton will not alter his confrontational playing style, Ireland assistant coach Richie Murphy has insisted. Boss Joe Schmidt admitted Sexton acts as bait to opposing defenders in the wake of the fly-half’s head injury scare in Ireland’s 22-13 Six Nations win in Scotland.

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British and Irish Lions star Sexton carries the ball flat to the line, passing at the very last instant to create space for his team-mates – and skills coach Murphy insisted any change would curb that threat.

Sexton lasted just 24 minutes of Ireland’s slender win in Edinburgh on February 9, but is fully fit for Sunday’s trip to Rome to face Italy. “He plays flat on the line; when you play flat on the line, you are going to get hit,” said Murphy.

“Obviously we don’t want him off the pitch, but there is definitely a fine line between what is fair and what isn’t fair. As long as the referees are able to judge that and decide that, Johnny is not going to change the way he plays.

“If he changes, he is not the same player he was. He doesn’t create the same holes for players that he creates for other people. Then there is no point in having him. It’s a two-fold thing really. The idea of him changing his game so that he can stay on the pitch doesn’t really fit.

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“He needs to play the game he feels is best. He is a confrontational type of character, he wants to play on the gain line. He wants to create space for others. I can’t see that changing.

“He is going to play the game the way he has done for the last number of years, which is part of what made him World Player of the Year. If it brings him to that level I can’t see him going away from that.”

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Sexton’s careful positioning drew Scotland’s defenders out of the line en route to Jacob Stockdale’s fine set-play score as Ireland shrugged off their opening-weekend defeat to England at Murrayfield.

Munster fly-half Joey Carbery piloted Ireland to victory after Sexton was withdrawn injured, further underscoring his steady Test level progression. Head coach Schmidt might be tempted to hand Carbery a start in Rome, given the continued need to grow depth with one eye on the autumn World Cup.

But various injuries have restricted Sexton’s game time this term, and Ireland might want to hand him further exposure ahead of the remaining Six Nations clashes with France and Wales. Asked if Sunday’s Italy encounter would be the perfect time for Carbery to start, a cautious Murphy replied: “With all these games it is about getting the right mix on the pitch.

Joey Carbery celebrates scoring a Munster try at Gloucester in January (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
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“Joey obviously played a lot of the Scottish game so it is trying to balance that up with game time for Johnny. We’ve watched them training over the last few days. Both guys are in good form. We’ll just make a decision a little bit later on.

“Joey has started games for us before; I don’t think he has started a Six Nations game. It would be a natural progression for him at this stage. Obviously he came on when Johnny went off very early against Scotland. He probably had a little bit of a shaky start but built into the game. Those opportunities, when they come along, he needs to grasp them with both hands.”

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Bull Shark 3 hours 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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