'Throwaway comment' brings Johnny Sexton's future to the forefront of Irish minds

'What am I going to say? That I’m guaranteed to be at the next World Cup at my age?'

'It was just a throwaway comment,' Johnny Sexton said after implying he may not be part of the Ireland squad for the 2023 World Cup. 

It was dismissed as a throwaway comment in an answer to a wider question but in trying to qualify an earlier statement Johnny Sexton yesterday sped up the clock on Ireland’s search for his successor as first-choice fly-half.

During his captain’s press conference with broadcast media yesterday as Ireland continued preparations for Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations trip to Italy, Sexton, 35, was replying to a question about how his team could improve in its decision-making and communication in attack under head coach Andy Farrell.