Ronan O’Gara says Johnny Sexton will be fit for 6 Nations opener

Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt is today set to name an extended squad for the first two games of the RBS 6 nations campaign with Ronan O’Gara revealing fly-half Johnny Sexton had given him every reason to believe he would be fit to face to Scotland in 12 days.

Ireland open their 2017 championship at Murrayfield on February 4 followed a week later by a trip to Rome to face Conor O’Shea’s Italy with Schmidt poised to welcome a squad numbering in the high 30s into camp at Carton House this week to begin preparations.

Sexton, 31, had caused concerns about his potential involvement when he was withdrawn from the Leinster line-up during the first half of their Champions Cup draw with Castres in France on Friday. Leinster reported their fly-half, Ireland’s first choice playmaker, had felt a tight calf muscle midway through the first-half at Stade Pierre Antoine.