It is necessarily an event. Saturday February 12, Ireland will be deprived of its opening half Jonathan Sexton for its trip to France at 5.45 p.m. (match to be followed live on France 2 and france.tv). At 36, the number 10 of Leinster withdrew for the shock of the 2nd day of the Six Nations Tournament, hit in the hamstrings. He will be replaced by Joey Carbery, Munster player, capped 18 times but never established in the Tournament.
Our line-up for a Round 2 assignment in Paris! #TeamOfUs | #FRAvIRE pic.twitter.com/9Pah0KmWMq
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) February 10, 2022
You have to go back to the recent history of Irish rugby to understand the significance of Johnny Sexton’s absence. Since the retirement of legend Ronan O’Gara in 2013, the opener with 102 selections has been undisputed in his position. With 955 points scored in the green jersey, he is now on the heels of his illustrious predecessor (1083 points, third world record holder behind Dan Carter and Johnny Wilkinson).
Of the last eight editions of the Six Nations, Sexton has missed four small games. On Saturday, the XV of Clover will appear at the Stade de France without its favorite opening half for the first time since … 2010. Best director of the last Tournament, he continues, at 36, to hover with his selection. Dominant during the success of his team against New Zealand (29-20) in November, Johnny Sexton walked on water last Saturday, at the opening of the Tournament, against Wales (29-7).
Often described as a manager opener not very fond of initiatives in spaces, the Leinster player showed the extent of his panoply, last week, on the second try of his people. After an interval catch followed by a pass after contact in the Welsh 22 meters, Sexton quickly got up to extend his pass for Andrew Conway. “He’s one of the best openers in international rugby history. Despite his age, he’s still incredible.” admired, moreover, Romain Ntamack Wednesday at a press conference.
The Toulouse number 10 expected to cross swords with Sexton. But despite a talent still intact, the Irishman is undermined by repeated physical glitches. He literally gave of himself to shine against the All Blacks last November: hit in the knee and ankle, the opener was sidelined for two months and did not resume competition until mid-January with Leinster. One cannot help, either, to evoke the concussions which come tirelessly to disturb his end of career.
In the spring of 2021, the ex-Racingman suffered two head shocks two months apart. Sexton and concussions, the story has been going on for almost ten years. A quick glance at the archives of the Irish press shows, moreover, that the question of a possible early retirement arose as early as 2016. Six years and a few blows – a good ten in total – received in the head later , the veteran is still there, but for how long?
“We made a decision at the end of the last Six Nations Tournament and I don’t think it will be different this year. Let’s wait until the end of the 2022 Tournament and see where we are.”
Jonathan Sexton, Ireland fly-halfat a press conference on November 3, 2021
It is easy to imagine the native of Dublin dreaming of participating in the next World Cup, in eighteen months. But he will be 38 by then. He arrives, moreover, at the end of the contract with his province of Leinster. Discussions for a possible extension will take place after the Tournament, but his replacement Ross Byrne is satisfactory and could keep a starting place in the club.
“To be honest, they [les Irlandais] are perhaps better off without him”conceded Philippe Saint-André, manager of Montpellier, this week in the Noon Olympic. Because the succession is there. If Ian Madigan (Ulster, ex-UBB) and Paddy Jackson (London Irish, ex-Perpignan) could not dethrone Sexton, the new generation should take care of it.
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On Saturday, she will be played by Joey Carbery. The Munster opener, 26, says to himself in any case “ready, both physically and mentally”. “VSso it may be a difficult time for himsaid Ronan O’Gara, now manager of La Rochelle. But he’s a guy with exceptional talent. Nothing beats stringing together matches at this level at his age.” Likely responsible for the goal at the Stade de France, Carbery will not escape. In Dublin, no one forgot his two kicks, including one from 50 yards, to secure the victory against the Blacks at the end of the match.
During the last summer and autumn tours, the Munsterman won his place as number 2 in the hierarchy, ahead of Billie Burns or Ross Byrne. From there to dream better? As the World Cup approaches and Sexton’s physique stalls, Carbery has every reason to shine on Saturday. His tenure should, basically, not change much for Fabien Galthié. “The Irish team is very structured, they have a very calm game plan and they will keep this attacking animation […]. They will stay on the same background, offensive and defensive, despite the absence of Johnny Sexton.”