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'We could be top of the table next week' - Sexton says Ireland can still win Six Nations
Johnny Sexton insists Ireland remain in Guinness Six Nations title contention, despite their quest for glory beginning with an agonising defeat. Irish aspirations were dealt a sizeable blow after the early dismissal of flanker Peter O’Mahony contributed heavily to Sunday’s frustrating 21-16 defeat to unfancied Wales.
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Andy Farrell’s men battled valiantly in Cardiff but, despite incessant late pressure, were unable to snatch victory as the hosts held on for only a fourth success from 11 Tests since the appointment of Wayne Pivac.
Captain Sexton has backed his side to respond to the setback, starting next weekend at home to current tournament favourites France.
Asked if there was still plenty left to play for, the 35-year-old replied: “Of course. It’s just all about next week now. The bonus-point loss could be crucial towards the end.
“We could be top of the table next week, if we get a big result at home. We know we’re playing against arguably the form team in Europe, the best team in Europe.
“We are going to have to come together and fix the wrongs and I fully back this group to do it.
“Any defeat at international level is gutting. It could have been a very famous victory for us. Any time you play Wales in Cardiff, it’s an incredibly tough game and to have done it with 14 would have been incredibly special – but it wasn’t to be.”
O’Mahony was sent off in the 14th minute following a reckless shoulder-led hit to the head of Wales prop Tomas Francis.
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Ireland overcame the adversity and a 6-0 deficit to deservedly lead 13-6 at the break courtesy of Tadhg Beirne’s try and eight points from fly-half Sexton.
However, the physical exertion of performing a man light eventually appeared to catch up with them as second-half scores from George North and Louis Rees-Zammit, plus the boot of Leigh Halfpenny, put Wales in control of the scoreboard.
After Sexton was reluctantly forced off with a head knock, Billy Burns set up a grandstand finish with a penalty, only to inadvertently end hopes of an Irish fightback by failing to find touch with a wayward final kick.
While Farrell’s men returned to Dublin empty handed, their skipper was pleased with the resilience shown.
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The numbers here highlight Ireland's maddening inconsistencies#WALvIRE #SixNations https://t.co/vhHQwNHDMX
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 7, 2021
“(I am) very proud of the way we fought back with 14 men,” said Sexton.
“It changes everything in terms of everything you have planned, all the different set plays, they just go out of the window and you have got to ad lib and I am proud of the way we reacted and got ourselves into that position.
“To go 13-6 up was some outstanding stuff and it could have been even better. We started the second half and made a couple of unforced errors, trying to do the right thing.
“There are going to be errors in international rugby because of the pressure you put on each other, but we made them at key times.”
Speaking of his head injury, he added: “I took a bit of a bump on the side of the temple and I should hopefully be OK.
“I will do all of the return to play protocols and hopefully I will be OK for training next week.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Billy's been playing consistently well for 2 - 3 seasons now and deserves a look in at the top level. Ioane and ALB are still first choice but there needs to be injury cover and succession. His partnership with Jordie gives him first dibs you'd think. Go the Hurricanes.
3 Go to commentsIt’s not up to Wales to support Georgian Rugby. That’s up to International Rugby and Georgia. I sympathise with Georgia’s decent attempt to create this fixture. But for Wales the proposed match up is just a potential stick to beat them with and a potential big psychological blow that young Welsh team doesn’t need. (I’m Irish BTW.)
2 Go to commentsCale certainly looks great in space, but as you say, he has struggled in contact. At 23 years old, turning 24 this year, he should be close to full physical maturity and yet there exists a considerable gap in the power and physicality required for international rugby. Weight doesn’t automatically equate to power and physicality either. Can he go from a player who’s being physically dominated in Super rugby to physically dominating in international rugby in 1 or 2 years? That’s a big ask but he may end up being a late bloomer.
28 Go to commentsIf rugby wants to remain interesting in the AI era then it will need to work on changing the rules. AI will reduce the tactical advantage of smart game plans, will neutralize primary attacking weapons, and will move rugby from a being a game of inches to a game of millimetres. It will be about sheer athleticism and technique,about avoiding mistakes, and about referees. Many fans will find that boring. The answer is to add creative degrees of freedom to the game. The 50-22 is an example. But we can have fun inventing others, like the right to add more players for X minutes per game, or the equivalent of the 2-point conversion in American football, the ability to call a 12-player scrum, etc. Not saying these are great ideas, but making the point that the more of these alternatives you allow, the less AI will be able to lock down high-probability strategies. This is not because AI does not have the compute power, but because it has more choices and has less data, or less-specific data. That will take time and debate, but big, positive and immediate impact could be in the area of ref/TMO assistance. The technology is easily good enough today to detect forward passes, not-straight lineouts, offside at breakdown/scrum/lineout, obstruction, early/late tackles, and a lot of other things. WR should be ultra aggressive in doing this, as it will really help in an area in which the game is really struggling. In the long run there needs to be substantial creativity applied to the rules. Without that AI (along with all of the pro innovations) will turn rugby into a bash fest.
24 Go to commentsSouth Africa rarely play Ireland and France on these tours. Mostly, England, Scotland and Wales. I wonder why
1 Go to commentsIt was a let’s-see-what-you're-made-of type of a game. The Bulls do look good when the opposition allows them to, but Munster shut them down, and they could not find a way through. Jake should be very worried about their chances in the competition.
2 Go to commentsHats off to Fabian for a very impressive journey to date. Is it as ‘uniquely unlikely’ as Rugby Pass suggests, given Anton Segner’s journey at the Blues?
1 Go to commentsSad that this was not confirmed. When administrators talk about expanding the game they evidently don’t include pathways to the top tier of rugby for teams outside of the old boys club. Rugby deserves better, and certainly Georgia does.
2 Go to commentsLions might take him on if they move on Van Rooyen but I doubt he will want to go back, might consider it a step backwards for himself. Sharks would take him on but if Plumtree goes on to win the challenge cup they will keep him on. Also sharks showing some promising signs recently. Stormers and Bulls are stable and Springboks are already filled up. Quality coach though, interesting to see where he ends up
1 Go to commentsAnd the person responsible for creating a culture of accountability is?
3 Go to commentsMore useless words from Ben Smith -Please get another team to write about. SA really dont need your input, it suck anyway.
264 Go to commentsThis disgraceful episode must result in management and coach team sackings. A new manager with worse results than previous and the coaching staff need to coached. Awful massacre led by donkeys.
1 Go to commentsInteresting article with one glaring mistake. This sentence: “And between the top four nations right now, Ireland, France, South Africa, and New Zealand…” should read: And between the top four nations right now, South Africa, Ireland, New Zealand and France…”. Get it right wistful thinkers, its not that hard.
24 Go to commentsHow did Penny get the gig anyway?
3 Go to commentsNice write up Nick and I would have agreed a week ago. However as you would know Cale & co got absolutely monstered by the Blues back row of Sotutu, Ioane and Papaliti and not all of these 3 are guaranteed a start in the Black jumper. He may need to put some kgs before stepping up, Spring tour? After the week end Joe will be a bit more restless. Will need to pick a mobile tough pack for Wales and hope England does the right thing and bashes the ABs. I like your last paragraph but I would bring Swinton, Hannigan into the 6 role and Bobby V to 8
28 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can still get in to the Play Off’s. The imminent return of outstanding captain Scott Barrett and his All Black team mate Codie Taylor will be a big boost.There are others like Tamaiti Williams too. Two home games coming up. Fellow Crusader fans get there and support these guys. I will be.
2 Go to commentsCant get more Wellington than Proctor.
3 Go to commentsWhy not let the media decide. Like how they choose the head coach. Like most of us we entrust the rugby system to choose. A rugby team includes the coaches. It's collective.
14 Go to commentsHi NIck, I have been very impressed with him and he seems a smart player who can see opportunities which Bobby V _(who must be an international 6_) doesn’t see or have the speed to take advantage of. If he continues to improve and puts on 5kgs then he could be a great 8. He is a bit taller than Keiran Reid at 1.93m and 111 kgs, so his skill set fits his body size and who knows where it will lead. I hope the spate of Achilles tendon issues have been dealt with by the S&C people. It’s been a very long time since Mark Loane and Kefu stood out at 8. The question is will we be able to hold onto him, if he does make it he will be pretty hot property. I disagree with the idea of letting them go to the Northern Hemisphere and then bring them back.
28 Go to commentsBilly Fulton 🤣🤣🤣🤣 garrrmon not even close
14 Go to comments