'I'd back him all day' - Henshaw sure Sexton will be firing in France

While the three-match dished out to the Ireland captain has deprived him of an Aviva Stadium send-off teammates are confident he'll be sharp at World Cup

LOCKED IN: Defence coach Simon Easterby and Jonathan Sexton get to work at the IRFU High Performance Centre, Sport Ireland Campus, Blanchardstown, Dublin. Pic:INPHO/Dan Sheridan

Ireland’s World Cup hopefuls would have us believe that confirmation of Johnny Sexton’s absence from all three warm-up games created little more than a ripple when the decision was announced after weeks of uncertainty.

As lines go, it stretches credulity.