France vs Ireland RWC 2015 preview: Johnny Sexton set for French flak
All agree that Johnny Sexton will be key in Ireland’s World Cup clash with France
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Johnny Sexton’s team-mates bestowed a nickname on him towards the end of his unsuccessful two-year spell at Racing Métro.
“Johnny Vacances” they cried when Sexton turned up at training as the French began to poke fun at the fact their fêted, highly paid fly-half was spending more time on holiday or recuperating in Dublin than in Paris.
New names have been added to that list. “The Zlatan Ibrahimovic of rugby” was how one unnamed team-mate described Sexton this week, the inference being that the 30-year-old is not well liked in Paris.
After today’s Pool D decider, that might be more the case than ever. Whoever loses will face the All Blacks in the last eight, while the winners will take on Argentina.
Stop Sexton and you stop Ireland is France’s simple gameplan. “I know that he is slow in getting rid of the ball. I am going to try and put the maximum pressure on him,” said prop Eddy Ben Arous. “I am going to hunt him down as often as possible. We are going to go after him 200 per cent because he is the strong man of this team.”
Sexton’s opposite number, Frederic Michalak, was a little more respectful. “Sexton is a great player but I won’t concentrate on him – that’s the role of Thierry Dusautoir,” he said. He might have mentioned Mathieu Bastareaud as well.
There is more than a hint of mental warfare and revenge at play here. The French are not enamoured with Sexton, after his two-year spell at Racing – rumour has it he was paid nearly £500,000-a-year – ended in frustration and disappointment before a return to Leinster.
Mixed form and an enforced three-month absence for concussion were key factors in his underwhelming spell in Paris, but the French do not view Sexton as the imperious and indestructable conductor the Irish see in Dublin.
“Johnny will take the fact he has been targeted all week as a massive compliment,” said David Humphreys, the former Ireland fly-half, now Gloucester’s director of rugby.
“He has played with and against the French and they know what makes him tick. That’s why he will be looking forward to this game so much. He is just unbelievably competitive.”
Competitive yes, but Sexton would undoubtedly be feeling more secure if Jared Payne was lining up at outside-centre for Ireland. That, however, will not happen after it was confirmed Payne had suffered a fractured foot and will take no further part in the tournament.
As the man chosen to step into Brian O’Driscoll’s boots, it is a sizeable blow. Keith Earls will replace Payne today, and Ireland will decide on Monday who to call-up in his place.
Sexton will adapt, as he always has. And to understand the man you have to understand what he has already overcome. When he first broke through he had two legends of the game – Felipe Contepomi and Ronan O’Gara – to dislodge at provincial and international level.
“Johnny has developed into the finest out-half in the world and that competitive instinct showed when there were those rivalries,” said Humphreys. “His opportunity came off the back of an injury to Felipe, and then there was the rivalry with ROG. I am not sure if ROG would say he enjoyed it or it was a good thing, but in terms of Johnny there was no question it made him work harder.
“One of Johnny’s key strengths is that he can implement any game-plan coach Joe Schmidt chooses.”
Sexton’s understanding with Schmidt is vital to everything Ireland do, but there have been hints Ireland are going to play more expansive game today in a bid to unlock the French defence. When questioned on the matter yesterday captain Paul O’Connell played the straightest of straight bats. “We haven’t been keeping anything up our sleeve,” said O’Connell. “We’ve tried plenty of plays in games but they just haven’t come off as well as we would have liked.”
The advantage of having Sexton in your side is that you can change tack, from a territory-based game to an expansive one, in a heartbeat.
“He kicks, he passes and he runs as well as anyone,” says Humphreys approvingly. “He drives this Irish team and the players around him. His form will determine the outcome of this match.”
And by this evening that could well mean “Johnny Vacances” has fired the French one step closer to an early holiday.
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