Johnny Sexton takes some punishment.
6 ft 7 in and 130kg Argentine second row Tomas Lavanini clocks him with a shoulder bang into the puss. Johnny Sexton’s head nearly comes off his neck by the force of it.
This was in the fifth minute of play. After one minute, the best out-half in the world was back on his feet. After nine minutes of play, the effects of the tackle began to hit him and he went down for treatment.
He was back up in the tenth. He was slotting penalties in the 13th. He was back to himself, he was back to Johnny Sexton.
Just take a look at the force of that hit.
Ouch!! You ok Johnny?#COYBIG #IREvARGِ pic.twitter.com/iaBG4jRkjt
— JJ (@jayhartigan) November 25, 2017
Undeterred, the 32-year-old was back into thick of it. After 20 minutes of play the slickest hands in Ireland were doing their thing to set up a truly brilliant team try for Ulster flyer Jacob Stockdale.
Searing through the heart of the Argentine defence. Giving the approaching Argentine defender the eyes. Setting Jacob Stockdale up on a plate.
Just look at that for direct-running, just look at that for confidence, just look at that for class.
That’s amazing stuff. That’s Johnny Sexton stuff.
Ireland had a positive first half in the Aviva, with the forwards contesting and carrying well. The forwards were purring, led by their orchestrator, led by their number 10.
