Johnny Sexton must prove he is ready for France showdown

It will not be the return of Johnny Sexton to full training with Ireland today that will determine whether the fly-half faces France at the Aviva Stadium this Saturday but the way he comes through the sessions at Carton House.

Without any game time since January 20, when he suffered a calf strain playing for Leinster against Castres, and with only 130 minutes of action under his belt since limping off with a hamstring injury in the 18th minute of Ireland’s defeat at home to New Zealand on November 19, Sexton must today prove he is ready to hit the ground running this weekend when the Six Nations campaign resumes in Dublin.

Despite his importance to Joe Schmidt, the recent injury profile of Sexton and the increasing confidence in his deputy Paddy Jackson to competently fill the main man’s boots means the Ireland boss has learned to live without his first-choice playmaker and will not risk him against France if there is doubt regarding his preparedness.