Johnny Sexton enjoying the 'freedom' of Ireland's system under Andy Farrell

'I enjoy having that freedom to stay in the system and make decisions in it. Play what you see and the freedom to go and do that. Things have worked for us'

Ireland's Johnny Sexton (right) celebrates after Garry Ringrose scores a try during the Six Nations match against Wales. Picture: PA

This may be Johnny Sexton’s 13th Guinness Six Nations campaign and this Saturday at Stade de France should bring his 103rd Ireland cap but do not under any circumstance expect the veteran’s competitive fire to be burning out.

Winning remains everything to the 36-year-old, which is why the Ireland skipper is enjoying his rugby so much right now, leading an improving team going from strength to strength under head coach Andy Farrell. Last Saturday’s Six Nations opening-day 29-7 win over Wales was a ninth Test victory in a row in a run stretching back almost 12 months to the end of last February and it is crystal clear that Sexton is in a much better space right now, in the build-up to the weekend showdown with France in Paris, than he was after back-to-back defeats kicked off Ireland’s 2021 championship campaign.