Johnny Sexton took a blow to the pinnacle throughout Ireland’s 34-10 win over Wales in Cardiff on the weekend and needed to full a head damage evaluation (HIA) earlier than he might resume coaching; Ireland face France in Dublin on Saturday
Last Updated: 09/02/23 7:55am
Johnny Sexton is match to play for Ireland in Saturday’s Six Nations conflict with France
Ireland captain Johnny Sexton is eagerly anticipating going through France for the primary time in three years after declaring himself match for Saturday’s “enormous” Guinness Six Nations showdown.
The fly-half has undergone a head damage evaluation (HIA) and overcome a useless leg suffered within the round-one win over Wales and hopes to keep away from additional late health “hiccups” forward of a possible championship title decider in Dublin.
Reigning Grand Slam champions France are the one main nation but to endure defeat towards Andy Farrell’s Ireland, with Sexton a late withdrawal forward of the earlier two conferences attributable to damage points.
Sexton was changed within the second half of Ireland’s 34-10 win over Wales of their Six Nations opener
The 37-year-old’s most up-to-date outing towards Les Bleus was a irritating 35-27 defeat in Paris on the finish of the extended 2020 match when he hit the headlines for his offended response to being substituted.
“I used to be saying this morning, the final two Wednesdays earlier than France over the past two fixtures I’ve ended up pulling out, so to get via right this moment is nice,” Sexton stated. “I can stay up for the sport, hopefully no extra hiccups.
“Obviously the confusion across the HIA and stuff like that, there’s nothing I can management about that, however I’ll be able to go for 80 [minutes] this week if wanted. It appears like an enormous recreation. There’s no level in saying something in any other case.
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“You cannot simply are available right here and say ‘it is simply one other recreation’ as a result of it is not, it is one we have waited a very long time for and I’ve learn that they need this check – to return to the Aviva and try to overturn us. It’s an enormous recreation.”
Ireland needed to accept the comfort of a Triple Crown final 12 months following a 30-24 Stade de France defeat, which Sexton watched from the stands attributable to a hamstring downside.
In 2021, the veteran did not fulfill return-to-play protocols forward of a slim 15-13 Dublin loss to Les Bleus, having been angered within the build-up by “extremely inappropriate” feedback from a French physician about his concussion document.
Sexton has missed the final two Six Nations conferences between Ireland and France
“They are all the time huge weeks, usually for me one thing comes out of the woodwork in French week and I’m anticipating one thing later within the week,” he stated. “It’s all the time a giant recreation; I grew up in an period of watching Ireland lose to France, closely, to then type of see the primary groups beating them after which to be a part of groups beating them has been wonderful.
“But you continue to have these recollections from a younger child of France coming and demolishing Ireland. You in all probability naturally really feel the underdog at my age, whereas the youthful lads in all probability do not. It’s an odd combination within the squad.”
Scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park and prop Tadhg Furlong have been dominated out for Ireland, with each additionally sitting out of Ireland’s 34-10 win over Wales on Saturday. Prop Cian Healy, who was a late withdrawal from the Ireland bench towards Wales attributable to a hamstring damage, additionally stays absent.
