“That’s exactly the message you’re trying to get across to the lads.”
Ireland heading into the final game of a Six Nations campaign with Scotland at home, and a chance to win a Triple Crown. Johnny Sexton has heard this tune before.
With Ireland’s 32-15 win over England well and truly digested, Sexton was up for more midweek media duty. The focus is on Scotland, this week, while all in Ireland will be hoping England can knock the French over in Paris.
Andy Farrell’s side can win what would only be their fourth Triple Crown in 15 years if they can beat Scotland at Lansdowne Road, on Saturday. Two arrived as part of the 2009 and 2018 Grand Slams, while the last standalone Irish Triple Crown win was in 2007.
Ireland were heavy favourites to win another, back in 2010. Scotland were captained by scrumhalf Chris Cusiter and they arrived in Dublin for what would be the final Six Nations game at Croke Park.
Ireland went 7-3 ahead after a Brian O’Driscoll try, in the 10th minute, but that was as good as it would get. They put in an error-strewn, loose performance and by the time then-coach Declan Kidney signalled for Ronan O’Gara to replace Sexton, the starting outhalf, Ireland were 17-7 behind.
At the time, Sexton wanted to take the penalty kick that had just been awarded. To him, it was the logical decision. To Josh Gardner, who was covering the match for ESPNscrum, it was not Sexton’s finest hour. He wrote:
Ronan O’Gara, Ireland, looks on as Jonathan Sexton prepares to take his last penalty kick before being substituted. (Credit: David Maher/SPORTSFILE)‘This is absurd – O’Gara is waiting to come on and is in fact 10 metres onto the pitch, but Sexton indicates that he wants to kick the penalty before he goes off. That’s really petulant stuff from the young 10, he’d better make this… He does, just, but that was hardly a moment where the youngster covered himself in glory.’
‘The scars are still with me’ – Johnny Sexton
O’Gara eventually replaced Sexton with a seven-point hole to try dig Ireland out of. He would convert a Tommy Bowe try, on 63 minutes, and added a late penalty but Dan Parks added his fourth and fifth kicks from the tee, that day, and the Scots won 23-20.
Asked about that game, today, Sexton commented, “I’m the sole survivor from that day. The scars are still with me.
“That’s exactly the message you’re trying to get across to the lads. They had nothing to play for, on the day, and we had a Triple Crown on the line. They came and did a job, and played brilliant rugby. It was a bad day – to have a packed out Croke Park and get nothing out of the game.
“The benefit of having experience is having someone [like me] to say to the lads that we need to get our training and preparations spot on… I’m not sure if many of the lads will remember 2010, but I do.”
Of course, Ireland are still in with a championship chance. They need to take care of business first, then sit back in a post-match function and keep an eye on England’s game against France.
Getting the Irish scrum right has moved up close to top of the checklist, this week, and Sexton has back the forwards in the squad to fix what went wrong at Twickenham. Scotland’s front row are talented without being fearsome, but they will be eager to have a crack at Ireland having seen what Ellis Genge, Jamie George & Co. did at scrum-time, last weekend.
