As the years go on, the respect levels grow.
Johnny Sexton is expected to take the No.10 jersey back from Joey Carbery, this weekend, as Ireland visit England in the Six Nations.
Both sides have two wins from three and are the only sides left capable of snatching the championship from France. Les Bleus are away to Wales this weekend and can go one step closer to the Grand Slam, but still have England left in Paris for their final game.
No side, since the competition was expanded for Italy in 2000, has won the Six Nations without victory in at least four games. That, aside from the long-held rivalry, is what makes England versus Ireland a MUST-WIN fixture, this weekend.
England head coach Eddie Jones was keen to stress that he is building a new side – albeit it one that contains Maro Itoje, Kyle Sinckler, Joe Marler, Jamie George, Ben Youngs, Ellis Genge, Jack Nowell, Courtney Lawes and Henry Slade in the squad. In his Monday press briefing, Jones was liberally sprinkling the words “new”, “young”, “fresh” and “raw”.
Ireland are the favourites, he insists. Under Jones, England have beaten Ireland five times and lost three, but the split is 3-3 in Six Nations matches. Jones spoke of how well made Andy Farrell has it as Ireland coach, with that clear synchronicity between the national team and leading province Leinster.
Jones was also asked if he was surprised Leinster and Ireland captain Johnny Sexton was most likely to start against his side at Twickenham. The Australian’s response suggests a softening in his tone towards Sexton, but there were some subtle messaging included.
Eddie Jones on Johnny Sexton longevity
“Not really mate,” Jones began when asked if he would be surprised to see 36-year-old Johnny Sexton starting at Twickenham.
“He’s an outstanding operator. He’s obviously got a thirst for playing rugby and he’s got the advantage of being looked after by his province. If he was playing anywhere else in the world it would probably be a bit more difficult but because they’ve got the Leinster-Ireland connection, he’s allowed to have the optimal [preparation] for international rugby.
“And he’s a durable guy. How many times have we seen it look like he’s got a terrible injury and he comes back and plays well. It is testament to his desire and to the way that Ireland have set up their rugby.”
So, amongst the praise, highlighting how Sexton is ‘looked after’ by Leinster and how he often goes down for what looks like ‘a terrible injury’, only to play on.
It is a lot tamer than the salvos Jones fired in his first Six Nations campaign as England head coach, back in 2016. Back then, he referred to Sexton getting “whiplash” injuries and openly mused that the outhalf’s parents ‘would be worried about that’.
Asked, back then, if it would be “unfair” to target Sexton in defence, and send big ball-carriers straight down the 10 channel, Jones was indignant.
“We target players all the time. That’s part of rugby is it not? Is there some sort of special law there? There are 15 players out there. Are we supposed to not run at one player? Hang on, hang on, he’s got a red dot on his head, we don’t run at him?
“We want to win,” he added, “and you win a game of rugby by attacking their weak points and to say that’s unfair is just ridiculous.”
Sexton and Jones, as opposition outhalf and England coach, have faced off six times in Test rugby. The record is 3-3. Sexton will be desperate to edge ahead and keep up the pressure on France.
