Sexton: rugby has not been badly tarnished by Bloodgate
That’s the view of Leinster out-half Jonathan Sexton, despite the fact that Tom Williams’ faked blood injury could have cost the Irish province a place in the Heineken Cup final which they subsequently won courtesy of Sexton’s nerveless kicking.
The fallout from the incident continues, but Sexton does not reckon that rugby has to prove its honesty.
“I don’t know if the image is tarnished that badly because it’s one game and one thing happened,” he said at yesterday’s launch of the new Golf GTI and GTD by Leinster’s new partners, Volkswagen, at Leopardstown racecourse.
“Maybe there were a few incidents of alleged eye gouging as well but these are one-off things. It’s not like it’s happening every week in rugby. I don’t think it’s going to tarnish or harm rugby in any way. I’m sure it’s not going to happen in the future with the penalties that have been handed out.”
The 24-year-old is raring to go after pre-season training in Nice. Having broken into the team late last term, he didn’t want the campaign to end but is wary of talk that he is the main man at out-half now, especially with Felipe Contepomi having moved on to Toulon.
“Management have brought in Shaun Berne and Isa Nacewa can still play 10. There’s a few young lads coming up through the academy as well. Obviously Felipe is gone but I’m just looking forward to playing a few more games than I did last season in the 10 shirt.
Sexton is even less enamoured by talk that he will push on and challenge Ronan O’Gara in the Ireland set-up this year, having been the subject of similar speculation last season.
“A lot of people forget I was playing 10 when we won the Magners League so I had the same conversation last year. People were saying ‘you’re going to push on’ but it doesn’t work like that. I started the season poorly and you can’t expect to push on if you start poorly, no matter how well you finish.
“The first few months are very important in getting to the Autumn internationals and Six Nations squad so I’m just focusing on the start of the season and trying to play well for Leinster.
“If I can do that and play to my potential, I might have a chance of getting involved in some shape with Ireland but that’s going to be a tough task with Ronan (O’Gara) and Paddy (Wallace) there and I wouldn’t disrespect them by saying I will get in there.
“Last year I was probably trying too hard. I had a lot of competition with Felipe and Isa and I was trying to outdo them and show Michael Cheika I was better than them and do all the things they could and that wasn’t what he was picking me for.”
Cheika finally had a word with him at Christmas and performances improved as the youngster took the advice on board.
“He just said I was trying to make breaks when they weren’t on and trying to do unbelievable things when they didn’t need to be done. He was honest with me, he told me to get back to what I do and I would get in the team and that’s what happened.”
Leinster get their Magners League campaign under way with an away trip to Llanelli Scarlets on Saturday. Cheika has called for his side to be competitive in both domestic and European competition this year but it won’t be easy.
“Munster made a real good effort at it last year but just fell short in the Heineken. They had a real good squad going and when a few of the big names didn’t play the other guys stepped up and did the job and that’s where we have to get to in Leinster.”
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