Sexton using previous World Cup experience and not looking past Romania

Experience has also taught Johnny Sexton not to look beyond tomorrow’s opening challenge, let alone talk about Ireland’s prospects of breaking their glass ceiling and reaching a first World Cup semi-final in 10 attempts.

ONE GAME AT A TIME: Johnny Sexton will use his three previous RWC experiences to help his side in the upcoming tournament. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Other than the elusive experience of a World Cup quarter-final victory, there is not much that Johnny Sexton has not seen or done in his previous three tournament appearances, certainly enough to understand that it is sometimes only the fine margins that represent the difference between success and failure.

That was certainly the case, as far as the 38-year old Ireland captain is concerned, four years ago in Tokyo when he was part of a side that appeared to implode in its last-eight showdown with New Zealand, bringing the Joe Schmidt era to a crushing halt in a 46-14 defeat to a vengeful, rampant All Blacks side.