Johnny Sexton has been showered with plaudits the week he will win his 100th cap for Ireland. As a Manchester United fanatic, the compliment he will relish most is a comparison to Roy Keane.
“I compare Johnny to a Henry Shefflin [the Kilkenny hurling legend] or a Roy Keane,” said Paul O’Connell, Ireland’s forwards coach, before today’s game in Dublin against Japan. “Winning doesn’t take the edge off him. That’s the biggest thing he’s brought to Irish rugby.
“Some guys have big lofty goals and when they achieve them they take their foot off the gas. He just pushes harder and harder.”
Sexton, 36, is motivated to show that Warren Gatland was wrong to omit him from his British & Irish Lions squad. He will admit, however, that having a summer off has had a rejuvenating effect.
He will be in familiar company today, as Andy Farrell has chosen a XV with 12 Leinster players. The expectation is that there will be little shifting in personnel before next weekend’s meeting with New Zealand.
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The Japan coach Jamie Joseph has chosen 14 of the 23 players who beat Ireland during the pool stages of the 2019 World Cup. Tadhg Furlong wins his 50th cap for Ireland.
