Ronan O'Gara: Keeping Johnny Sexton on board makes sense, but who's ready for the hand-off?

The public seems to see the contract announcement as big news. It’s a standard play. Andy Farrell loves the way Johnny manages the attack. In terms of this Saturday, with Johnny on form, he is better than Joey Carbery.

Looking after No 1; Johnny Sexton.

HARRY Randall starts for England against Ireland tomorrow. The Bristol nine is retained by Eddie Jones ahead of Ben Youngs, the most capped England international in history. Youngs is 32 and the ‘squad father’ of the group. And he’s still got game. Nevertheless, for this Six Nations ‘semi-final, as Eddie calls it, the coach needs to see what Harry’s game is all about.

There are obvious, if facile, comparisons to the Irish question at No 10 and it is very interesting in the context of how the respective England and Ireland managements interpret their build-up to the 2023 World Cup.