“It’s always one thing or the other.”
Johnny Sexton and France. What started off so positively, back in 2013, has since devolved into a strangely one-way barrage.
There is no doubt that many in France respect the Ireland captain. How could they not. He has beaten Les Bleus on five occasions, drawn another and put countless French sides to the sword in the Champions Cup.
There is a lingering sense, in some parts of France, that Sexton is not all that. That he was surly and not at his best during his two-season stint with Racing. That he can be targeted and literally knocked out of games [see Mathieu Bastareaud gunning for him in numerous Test encounters].
There have been open discussions about Sexton’s past concussions, with his health being a topic of conversation on French airwaves and on TV shows. One outlet went so far as to interview a doctor he had visited and asked for his opinion about the outhalf possibly putting himself in harms way.
It is part of the reason Sexton was so upset when, as Ireland captain in October 2020, his image flashed up, and was tracked, on the big screen as he was replaced by Ross Byrne at a loss against France.
The latest peels from the Sexton facade have arrived, this week, courtesy of former France boss Philippe Saint-André and his interview with Midi Olympique.
Johnny Sexton responds to latest criticism from France
During a longer chat that, in part, previewed Saturday’s Six Nations clash between Ireland and France, Saint-André was asked if Andy Farrell’s side were often too dependant on Johnny Sexton. He replied:
“Less and less, I find. In fact, to be honest, they are maybe better without him.
“I like Ross Byrne, he is capable of exceptional things. Yes, Sexton is an icon, he remains the starter, but Byrne has played more than him this season at Leinster. They have a new generation who are showing up well, who are interesting.”
Ireland are currently on a nine-Test winning streak and Ross Byrne, while solid for Leinster, is not part of his country’s Six Nations squad. Asked about the latest critique from France, the Ireland captain says:
“I’m well used to it, at this stage. This week of the season, France, whether it is home or away, there is always something, from one direction or the other. Whether it is inside the camp or outside the camp.
“The [comments] you are referring to are obviously outside the camp, but you can’t control what people say. You’ve to try and do your talking on the pitch. It’s nothing new for me, with this fixture, to have stuff thrown at me that you wouldn’t expect.”
As for taking on Les Bleus at Stade de France – a venue he has twice won Tests at, while drawing another – Sexton says the key will be accepting that some 50/50 calls may go against Ireland and trying to keep the home crowd as quiet as possible.
“We are always trying to win as many moments as we can… the best teams, when they win, take the lessons from it and improve from it,” he comments.
