Jonathan Sexton is playing his last international competition with Ireland. A true legend, he is preparing to face South Africa on Saturday September 23 at the Stade de France. The Irish people readily imagine that he will take his team to the world title. Ireland, which has participated in the World Cup since its creation in 1987, has never progressed beyond the quarter-final stage.
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On the eve of the South Africa-Ireland clash, we can easily imagine the fervor and discussions around the Clover XV, in the famous Temple Bar district of Dublin, where the evenings are copiously drunk as the weekend approaches. And the Dubliners, between two sips of beer, will only have one name on their lips, that of… Sexton.
If Jonathan Sexton takes his team to the world title, he could well have his statue in the streets of Dublin, just like that of James Joyce, one of the major writers that the Irish capital has ever known, and which sits enthroned on North Earl Street.
Top scorer in the history of the Irish team
The Clover XV fly-half had his first selection in November 2009. Since then, he has had his hands on the position. Against Tonga, for Ireland’s second outing in the 2023 World Cup (Saturday September 16), the mastermind of the Irish offensive became the best scorer in the history of the Irish team. With 1,090 points scored, he broke Ronan O’Gara’s record (1,083). “ My son will definitely be happier than me. I’m proud, but it’s just a new record that will be broken one day. We will focus on the next match. We spent the summer training like crazy, but the good thing is that now we have the legs to create opportunities and go for a test as soon as we can. But we still have a lot to work on “, commented Johnny Sexton after his record.
With two tries and 24 points without forcing: Jonathan Sexton, absent from the field for almost six months, made a successful comeback against a weak Romania (82-8) on September 9 in Bordeaux. “ Against South Africa, I’ll really know if I’m in good shape “, agreed the captain. After such a long absence, the veteran admitted on Thursday to feeling “ a little nervous » before returning to the grounds. At 38 years old, with his 114 caps, Sexton is the oldest player to wear the Irish jersey. Sexton and the XV du Trèfle dream of finally breaking the glass ceiling of the quarter-finals.
Looking for a sixteenth consecutive victory
For the match against South Africa, the third meeting in the group stages, Ireland coach Andy Farrell renewed his standard team. “ We needed continuity and we needed a team capable of facing the world champions “, he commented.
The entry of scrum half Jamison Gibson-Park, who brings “ pace » according to Farrell, in place of Conor Murray, constitutes the only change compared to the starting XV of the victory against Tonga (59-16). As expected, the English coach of the XV du Trèfle has lined up his strongest team to face the Springboks, with first place in Pool B at stake.
Sexton, who is coming off two good matches against Romania and Tonga, will be at the helm again, looking for a sixteenth consecutive victory. We could have envisaged that he would be spared by the staff for this match in which he should be targeted by the Boks.
The Irish playing master won the grand slam to conclude his story with the Six Nations Tournament at the start of the year, becoming on the same occasion the best director in the history of the competition, ahead of Ronan O’Gara. His ultimate challenge remains the Webb Ellis Trophy.
Ireland: Keenan – Hansen, Ringrose, Aki, Lowe – (o) Sexton, (m) Gibson-Park – Van der Flier, Doris, O’Mahony – Ryan, Beirne – Furlong, Kelleher, Porter
Subs: Sheehan, Kylcoyne, Bealham, Henderson, Baird, Murray, Crowley, Henshaw