Johnny Sexton

chupacabra

After todays superb performance, and indeed many performances in the past (U-20s, Ireland A etc.) i think its about time O'Gara started warming the bench and Sexton becomes our first choice fly-half over the AI's and possibly the six nations next year. He showed immense composure today, he bossed the game well, controlled things well, never got over excited or over bearing. This lad is top class, top. class. And its about time we handed the 10 shirt over to someone else. Well done Sexton, from a devastated munster man.

thehighground

chupacabra wrote: »

After todays superb performance, and indeed many performances in the past (U-20s, Ireland A etc.) i think its about time O'Gara started warming the bench and Sexton becomes our first choice fly-half over the AI's and possibly the six nations next year. He showed immense composure today, he bossed the game well, controlled things well, never got over excited or over bearing. This lad is top class, top. class. And its about time we handed the 10 shirt over to someone else. Well done Sexton, from a devastated munster man.

Fair play to Declan Kidney for keeping him in the international frame and rebuilding his confidence a bit by selecting him in the Ireland 'A' game when Cheika had discarded him.

He'll have to improve his diving though - that was a very lame attempt today

themont85

A real coming of age game for him alright.

sock puppet

He'll have an opportunity to shine on the Summer tour. Then maybe he'll kick on and displace O'Gara.

Podge_irl

Despite today's game I wouldn't be rushing to put him ahead of O'Gara. Damn fine fly-half though.

Diabhal Beag

Sexton was good but to say that O'Gara should warm the bench is a bit much

Aidric

chupacabra wrote: »

After todays superb performance, and indeed many performances in the past (U-20s, Ireland A etc.) i think its about time O'Gara started warming the bench and Sexton becomes our first choice fly-half over the AI's and possibly the six nations next year. He showed immense composure today, he bossed the game well, controlled things well, never got over excited or over bearing. This lad is top class, top. class. And its about time we handed the 10 shirt over to someone else. Well done Sexton, from a devastated munster man.

Lol. On the back of one performance against a Munster team who were completely out of sorts. I'll reserve judgement thanks.

thomond2006

To Johnny Sexton:

I have been so so wrong about you. You gave a great performance against the ML champions and I congratulate you on your victory.

Yours sincerely,
A very embarrassed Thomond2006

spank_inferno

Time can only tell.

ROG's kicking skills know no equal on this Isle.
The other aspects of his game though are quite weak.

Next season will tell a lot with the departure of Dr Phil for Sexton

Podge_irl

In fairness to him, that's three victories over Munster he has been pivotal in. I look forward to him being first choice outhalf next year.

stephen_n

I think in fairness benching O'Gara may be a bit premature, Sexton is the future as I have been saying for a while on here but I think his first season in the Ireland frame should be as an impact sub very much the way O'gara came through himself but I'm glad to see alot of people who wrote him off may see now the potential he has.

Stev_o

Let's hope that the development tour will push him in the right direction.

Aidric

The unfortunate irony is that he should never have been involved in todays game after his thuggery in the magners league fixture. He isn't fit to lace O Gara's boots yet but it's fun none the less to hear the Leinster fan's getting carried away.

Leinster fan here, just asking people to see through the blue and red haze of today.

O'Gara is our #1, simple as. I love the fact that Sexton will now be pushing him for a spot, as that is one thing I feel O'Gara has really missed, competition will drive him on. The best headache a manager can have is trying to pick one player over another, knowing he has Sexton over his shoulder will hopefull see O'Gara push himself further in the Green.

Likewise, I hope this spurs Sexton onto playing even further out of his skin, and eventually (not tomorrow) take over as our International outhalf.

(Lets not forget Keatley in a hurry either)

funky penguin

Sexton, well done. In my opinion, no coincidence the tries came as soon as he came on.

To say he's now above Ronan...bah.

Definately put his name forward though.

corny

The thing i was most impressed with was his defense. Against dangerous runners like Mafi and Earls he didn't put a foot wrong.

I think the most important and relevant thing he proved today is that he's worth giving a chance to.

Kristopherus

Aidric wrote: »

The unfortunate irony is that he should never have been involved in todays game after his thuggery in the magners league fixture. He isn't fit to lace O Gara's boots yet but it's fun none the less to hear the Leinster fan's getting carried away.

+1

funky penguin

Aidric wrote: »

The unfortunate irony is that he should never have been involved in todays game after his thuggery in the magners league fixture. He isn't fit to lace O Gara's boots yet but it's fun none the less to hear the Leinster fan's getting carried away.

You keep thinking that.

stephen_n

Aidric wrote: »

The unfortunate irony is that he should never have been involved in todays game after his thuggery in the magners league fixture. He isn't fit to lace O Gara's boots yet but it's fun none the less to hear the Leinster fan's getting carried away.

The real Irony is that the posters to which you refer are Munster fans!

He got his ban but sour grapes about his involvement in this game is just poor grace.

As a matter of interest how long do you think Quinlans ban should be?

Aidric

funky penguin wrote: »

You keep thinking that.

I will thanks.

sioda

Great game today but too much studying of man utd diving tactics video

Aidric

stephen_n wrote: »

As a matter of interest how long do you think Quinlans ban should be?

As it happens, to a man, me and my fellow Munster supporters turned to each other after the incident and said there is no place for that in the game. If he receives a lengthy ban for it then he can have no complaints, idiotic and needless behaviour.

andyman

sioda wrote: »

Great game today but too much studying of man utd diving tactics video

Same with Dowling, to be fair.

Sexton was outstanding today. Having said that I'd so much rather Dr. Phil start in Murrayfield (not going to happen, mind). It'd be such a fitting stage if he were to win the Heineken Cup in his last game.

As for whoever said that he isn't capable of lacing O'Gara's boots, he showed today that he can clearly do more than that. O'Gara is still Ireland No. 1 for the time being, though.

sioda

What I like about dr phil is his physical presence on the pitch and he does deserve to go out on top but its great to see sexton coming through

chupacabra

I never said sexton is "above" O'Gara, and to be honest, yes i would love to see O'Gara warm the bench for awhile, the man needs a break, he has held the 10 jersey for ireland for far too long and has at times maybe become a little bit complacent and too comfortable. For the long term health of rugby in this country, Sexton needs to be given starting berths. and Aidric im not a leinster fan.

DM_7

chupacabra wrote: »

I never said sexton is "above" O'Gara, and to be honest, yes i would love to see O'Gara warm the bench for awhile, the man needs a break, he has held the 10 jersey for ireland for far too long and has at times maybe become a little bit complacent and too comfortable. For the long term health of rugby in this country, Sexton needs to be given starting berths. and Aidric im not a leinster fan.

Why should kidney start him when he doesn't start for Leinster? Would make more sense to have him come off the bench.

Look at Cipriani in england he got built up and then as soon as he didn't live up to unfair expectations he was buried.

It fair to say well done johnny on a good performance but we have to avoid putting unfair expectations on him. Let him grow into club rugby before looking for him to start for ireland.

subfreq

Certainly at the front of the que to be the bench fly half in the Autumn. He needs to grow out of the petulance, diving and high school type agro in games before he is ready to make a real claim for the Irish jersey.

I really like him as a footballer though. Can't believe Contepomi gets selected in front of him.

funky penguin

DM-ICE wrote: »

Why should kidney start him when he doesn't start for Leinster? Would make more sense to have him come off the bench.

Look at Cipriani in england he got built up and then as soon as he didn't live up to unfair expectations he was buried.

It fair to say well done johnny on a good performance but we have to avoid putting unfair expectations on him. Let him grow into club rugby before looking for him to start for ireland.

See, the problem is that he is ready for club rugby, and has proved this against the best team in Europe three times now. MC needs to see this.

DM_7

funky penguin wrote: »

See, the problem is that he is ready for club rugby, and has proved this against the best team in Europe three times now. MC needs to see this.

Exactly, if he doesn't start for his club then how can he start for Ireland? MC needs to be able to pick an experienced player in big games. It would be unfair to put johnny straight in. You could kill his career before it ever got started. A 10 needs time to grow into his position. Its not like picking a full back or centre and hiding him on the wing for experience. If anything his performance when he came on shows Cheika has handled him correctly so far.

Trotter

Having Sexton around in the Leinster first team, and onwards to the senior Irish team will do wonders for the out half position. ROG has had things his own way for too long and it'll raise his game to have Sexton biting at his ankles. Competition for every position is good and healthy, and its been lacking at 10 since Humphs was around.

O'Gara hasn't lost the shirt by any means, but no harm for him to know Sexton wants it, and has the talent to challenge him for it.

Podge_irl

funky penguin wrote: »

Sexton, well done. In my opinion, no coincidence the tries came as soon as he came on.

Despite playing nowhere near as much time as Conters at fly half this season, I'm pretty sure Leinster have scored at least twice as many tries with Sexton on the pitch, if not more. He releases the backline in a way Conters simply cant do. He won't run it the same way (though he had some lovely running today), but he is exactly what Leinster need.

anonymous_joe

Podge_irl wrote: »

Despite playing nowhere near as much time as Conters at fly half this season, I'm pretty sure Leinster have scored at least twice as many tries with Sexton on the pitch, if not more. He releases the backline in a way Conters simply cant do. He won't run it the same way (though he had some lovely running today), but he is exactly what Leinster need.

My great regret is that we never really got to see the two of them in tandem.

Sexton with Contepomi outside him is frightening. But D'Arcy has to lose out for that to happen. But Sexton's been magnificent again.

Size=everything

And to think a lot of posters here wrote him off!! I can remember one user in particular getting awful absuse for saying Sexton could displace O'Gara!!

chupacabra

Size=everything wrote: »

And to think a lot of posters here wrote him off!! I can remember one user in particular getting awful absuse for saying Sexton could displace O'Gara!!

Aye. Should be an interesting battle in years to come between Sexton and Keatley for the 10 shirt, all of a sudden things are looking a little brighter when after the world cup the country despaired at our lack of an effective back up 10.

sock puppet

sock puppet wrote: »

He'll have an opportunity to shine on the Summer tour. Then maybe he'll kick on and displace O'Gara.

I totally forgot he won't be available for the tour. Hopefully we'll see him in action in the AIs.

danthefan

DM-ICE wrote: »

Why should kidney start him when he doesn't start for Leinster? Would make more sense to have him come off the bench.

Look at Cipriani in england he got built up and then as soon as he didn't live up to unfair expectations he was buried.

It fair to say well done johnny on a good performance but we have to avoid putting unfair expectations on him. Let him grow into club rugby before looking for him to start for ireland.

Kidney has shown during the 6N he doesn't mind bringing players into the 22 despite the fact they struggle to make their provincial 22.

bleg

he's an absolute joke and should be banned for bringing the game into disrepute for his dive. o gara didn't come anywhere near his face.


had a good game apart from that.

danthefan

bleg wrote: »

he's an absolute joke and should be banned for bringing the game into disrepute for his dive. o gara didn't come anywhere near his face.


had a good game apart from that.

Dowling did the same at one stage, off your high horse if you can manage it.

NickNolte

bleg wrote: »

he's an absolute joke and should be banned for bringing the game into disrepute for his dive.

Stop crying.

anonymous_joe

danthefan wrote: »

Dowling did the same at one stage, off your high horse if you can manage it.

Heard a lot of shrieks of traitor and turncoat after that.

RuggieBear

lads keep it civil.

Podge_irl

bleg wrote: »

he's an absolute joke and should be banned for bringing the game into disrepute for his dive. o gara didn't come anywhere near his face.

Sexton hit his face on something after he fell down/was pushed. Unless staying on the sideline being treated while play continued was part of some masterplan of his.

Diamondmaker

DM-ICE wrote: »

Why should kidney start him when he doesn't start for Leinster? Would make more sense to have him come off the bench.
.

Kidney does not have Phil to select and as flawed as he is, Ncawa either.

Seems pretty obvious to me...

DM_7

danthefan wrote: »

Kidney has shown during the 6N he doesn't mind bringing players into the 22 despite the fact they struggle to make their provincial 22.

I said in the original post it would make more sense to bring him off the bench for ireland. I never said he shouldn't be or doesn't deserve to be involved with the 22 in the near future.

3rdman

Did anybody else see Sexton screaming in O'Gara's face after D'arcy's try? I know O'Gara & D'arcy were close when they were on the ground but he made a clear effort to stick his face in O'Gara's. I can't believe it hasn't been mentioned before. Maybe nobody else saw it but it happened I tells you

anonymous_joe

3rdman wrote: »

Did anybody else see Sexton screaming in O'Gara's face after D'arcy's try? I know O'Gara & D'arcy were close when they were on the ground but he made a clear effort to stick his face in O'Gara's. I can't believe it hasn't been mentioned before. Maybe nobody else saw it but it happened I tells you

I know. He was a disgrace. And the way he let Saint Ronan hit him later was a disgrace. Scum.

KELTICKNIGHTT

sexton is a tosser for way he acted,hes day will come

RuggieBear

KELTICKNIGHTT wrote: »

sexton is a tosser for way he acted,hes day will come

banned.

Mr.Applepie

RuggieBear wrote: »

banned.

Put away the banstick before there is no one left

I think Sexton needs to play consistently well next season (presuming he's a regular starter) before he'll have any chance of taking O'Garas spot.

Theus

Now Ruggie I hope you dont maliciously beat me with a ban hammer for saying this, but surely him calling Johnny a 'tosser' didnt deserve a ban.

toomevara

Dr Phil out for the final, so johnny can get the oul boots shined up...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/8031989.stm