Retirement talk inspires Johnny Sexton, warns Joe Schmidt

“He felt it was probably better to base his opinion on his health and well-being on the expertise rather than someone who had never clinically assessed him.”

Joe Schmidt believes Johnny Sexton is fed up with being told to retire off the pitch and openly targeted on it – but will turn that frustration into top form in the RBS 6 Nations.

Sexton has been passed fit after his head-injury scare in a saga now dating back almost three years that includes 12 weeks sidelined starting in December 2014 after four concussions inside 12 months.