Sexton sets sights on reaching top
“If your goal isn’t to break into the team and stay there, then maybe you shouldn’t be there in the first place,” he admitted ahead of tomorrow evening’s Magners League clash with the Ospreys at Donnybrook (7.30pm).
The 21-year-old certainly lives by those words.
Sexton, a former under-21 international, has impressive credentials which were enhanced considerably over the last month when replacing the injured Felipe Contepomi in League action against Munster and Ulster.
Sexton recognises that, for now, he is only filling in for the Argentinian international but he’s not prepared to settle for second best down the road.
“Right now, a lot depends on Felipe and Christian (Warner) and how their injuries go. I’m down the list, but I’m happy to have got a couple of chances in the last fortnight. It’s up to me, Christian and Andy (Dunne) to put a bit of pressure on Felipe.
“Ultimately, my goal would be to break into the side, but I have to be realistic. Felipe is a world-class player, I’m still young and learning.”
Sexton is thankful for the opportunity to play against the best opposition he could possibly come up against in Ireland and Europe in the last couple of weeks.
“I’m playing in the same squad as one of the great out-halves in the world, and have had the opportunity to play against two more — Ronan O’Gara and David Humphreys — in the last couple of weeks. It was also good to get an opportunity to line out against Paddy Wallace, who is up there in the pecking order with Ireland.”
Sexton is both a quick and willing learner, according to Leinster coach Michael Cheika.
“One of the things that impressed me about him is his ability to sit down and talk about weak points and determine to work on improvement. He can actually take things on board during a match and make the necessary adjustments. That’s the sign of a very good player,” said the coach.
Sexton is under no illusions about imperfections in his game.
“You’re always looking to learn, wanting to pick up a few hints here and there and improve as a result. I made a few mistakes in each of the last couple of games; mistakes that I was angry with at the time but I then realised that they, some of them anyway, were probably bound to happen.
“I coped quite well with the pressure — maybe it was better in the second game. The coaches, and they’re the people that matter, brought me through the performance against Munster and pointed out some of the mistakes I made. We talked about what way I should approach the Ulster game, and I took up the play a bit more against them. It was planned, but it also came about because I got a bit more confident, as you do the more you play.”
Sexton made one brilliant break in the second half of Sunday’s game, but was dragged back from behind.
“Looking back on the video, I suppose I should have tried to make the space for someone else, but it appeared as if the gap had opened up for me. It wasn’t to be, but that was all part of the learning experience,” he said.
Cheika admitted that people were entitled to be surprised at the selection of a rookie for those two most recent big games. But the coach added: “We wouldn’t have picked him unless we felt he was such a naturally good player. He will learn from situations encountered in big games like those he has played in. He has gone from a situation where he was playing club and A-level rugby and he has now made the step up. That will stand to him; it’s good for him to play alongside guys like Brian O’Driscoll and Gordon D’Arcy. All we want for him to be is confident in his own game, because we’re confident in him. He has really made a very good start.”
Meanwhile, Ospreys captain Paul James, Tal Selley, Brent Cockbain and Andy Lloyd are the sole survivors from the XV that started in last Sunday’s win over the Dragons for the trip to Donnybrook.
Coach Lyn Jones has 14 players out with injury, while James Hook, Gavin Henson and Justin Marshall are rested.
“It was always our intention to rotate the squad over these few weeks, but the enforced changes have made this weekend’s selection even more difficult,” said Jones
“Having said that we have always performed well at Donnybrook and we have enjoyed our previous visits to the ground. This weekend presents a great opportunity for players such as Martin Roberts, Ed Shervington and Mike Powell to show us what they can offer at this level. There may also be an opportunity to give Ben Lewis some game time.”
S Terblanche, J Vaughton, T Selley, A Bishop, R Mustoe, S Connor, M Roberts, P James (capt), E Shervington, A Millward, B Cockbain, M Powell, L Beach, R Pugh, A Lloyd.
B Williams, A Jones, C Martenko, B Lewis, J Spice, N Walker, AN Other (back).
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