Back in November, it was put to Joe Schmidt that Johnny Sexton would be better served by sitting it out a while. The Ireland coach defended his outhalf’s injury profile on the night [after a 21-9 loss to New Zealand] but a call was made soon after.
Six weeks of rest and recuperation with more than a few visits out to the Sports Surgery Clinic in Santry to try sort out some hamstring issues.
Sexton returned for Leinster duty but, trying to prove a point about his durability, played on longer than he should have when he heavily bruised a calf against Castres. Trying to tough it out ultimately cost Sexton Six Nations outings against Scotland and Italy.
It was another rough ride, against Wales, that led to concerns about Sexton’s well-being but two 80-minute stints in wins over England and Wasps have come at the right time. Leinster are in the hunt for two trophies and the British & Irish Lions squad is announced next Wednesday.
At the launch of the re-branded Rugby Players Ireland [formerly IRUPA], Sexton spoke of summer tours but was keen to mention the June Test matches against the United States and Japan, as well as the Lions.
When we put the notion of a six-month sabbatical, following the summer’s rugby action, was put to Sexton, he shook his head.
“I thought I took a sabbatical already,” he responded. “Six weeks in Santry.
“No. I don’t think I need it. The fact is I started the season late because of dislocating my shoulder at the end of last season, in the [PRO12] final, so my season started late. I missed seven games off the bat.
“I come back, playing well, and probably neglected some areas that I needed to work on in the summer. I picked up a small little strain. I picked up a strain of a similar nature and then I took a break. And I did every single [training] session.
“The perception of me as struggling through like… I did every single session from the start of the summer [pre-season] all the way through. I picked up a couple of niggles and I just said, ‘Look, I can’t do this, this season, in terms of picking up a niggle and having a week off… I need to get it sorted’.”
It is at that point where Sexton pauses to correct himself.
“Well, I didn’t say that. Someone else said it to me – that you need to get your body in a better place. I did that for the six weeks and I felt great and beside that one issue – with the contact injury with the calf – I’ve been pretty good. I don’t want to jinx it now.”
“So those are the facts but it can be portrayed… you know, especially when you don’t… like if I get injured and it’s not reported when I’ll be back, the week after it’s like ‘Oh he’s still not back’ and the week after is ‘He’s still not back, still not back’ and it seems like every time that you’re in the headlines for being injured.
“Sometimes you are better off where, if you pick up an injury you are not seen for nine months and then you’re back, suddenly that injury doesn’t exist [as a narrative]. It’s a tough one to deal with but, like I said, the facts and how it’s portrayed can be slightly different.”Â
Sexton is somewhat of a national treasure and everyone seems to have an opinion on his fitness and well-being.
He appreciates the concern but assures us that he knows his own body and has plenty of support on hand.
Andrew Trimble and Johnny sexton pictured at the Rugby Players Ireland re-branding announcement [Credit: INPHO]
