NO NEWS IS good news as far as Ireland’s coaches are concerned on midweek days such as this. Bar Rory Best, skills and kicking coach Richie Murphy happily chirped that everybody had trained this morning.
Billy Stickland / INPHO
Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO
That means Dave Kearney, Sean O’Brien, Eoin Reddan, Jamie Heaslip and Cian Healy all took part in Carton House. Only Thursday’s team announcement will provide a definitive gauge to their ability to face France, though you should expect at least the latter three to feature in the matchday squad.
As for Jonathan Sexton, well, he’s come through contact training and still impressing team-mates with his conditioning. The only question remaining is whether he can last the pace in frenzied international Test.
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“I suppose time will tell how long his lungs go,” says Tommy Bowe, “but the sort of athlete Johnny is, it hasn’t seemed to bother him in the past.
“The way he’s trained, he’s been fully involved in training this week. He looks very sharp. It’s been kind of a mini pre-season for him, he’s been able to get some fitness work done. I think he’ll be looking fresh. He’s hugely excited about it, I’m sure.”
Dan Sheridan / INPHO
Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO
Richie Murphy wouldn’t quite reveal the jersey Sexton will wear on his return after 12 weeks on the sideline, but echoed the sentiment that the Racing Metro man is straining at the leash to play again.
“He took a full part in training and did contact work today and is raring to go for the weekend.
He’s just itching to go. The last few weeks probably have been a little bit frustrating but he understood that he couldn’t play until he got the all clear. He’s got that now and he’s ready to go.”
“His goal-kicking is going fine. We did some work today and yesterday and he seems to be in a good spot. Obviously he hasn’t taken any competitive kicks for a while so we will see how he gets on at the weekend.”
“It’s a pretty big test for him but the great benefit he has is that he has been training so he has had his eye in doing a lot of skill work and non-contact stuff that we have been doing.
“It’s not as bad as somebody coming from injury where they haven’t been able to touch the ball.
Sexton 'raring to go' as Ireland welcome (almost) a full house to training
NO NEWS IS good news as far as Ireland’s coaches are concerned on midweek days such as this. Bar Rory Best, skills and kicking coach Richie Murphy happily chirped that everybody had trained this morning.
That means Dave Kearney, Sean O’Brien, Eoin Reddan, Jamie Heaslip and Cian Healy all took part in Carton House. Only Thursday’s team announcement will provide a definitive gauge to their ability to face France, though you should expect at least the latter three to feature in the matchday squad.
As for Jonathan Sexton, well, he’s come through contact training and still impressing team-mates with his conditioning. The only question remaining is whether he can last the pace in frenzied international Test.
“I suppose time will tell how long his lungs go,” says Tommy Bowe, “but the sort of athlete Johnny is, it hasn’t seemed to bother him in the past.
“The way he’s trained, he’s been fully involved in training this week. He looks very sharp. It’s been kind of a mini pre-season for him, he’s been able to get some fitness work done. I think he’ll be looking fresh. He’s hugely excited about it, I’m sure.”
Richie Murphy wouldn’t quite reveal the jersey Sexton will wear on his return after 12 weeks on the sideline, but echoed the sentiment that the Racing Metro man is straining at the leash to play again.
“He took a full part in training and did contact work today and is raring to go for the weekend.
“His goal-kicking is going fine. We did some work today and yesterday and he seems to be in a good spot. Obviously he hasn’t taken any competitive kicks for a while so we will see how he gets on at the weekend.”
“It’s a pretty big test for him but the great benefit he has is that he has been training so he has had his eye in doing a lot of skill work and non-contact stuff that we have been doing.
“It’s not as bad as somebody coming from injury where they haven’t been able to touch the ball.
“He’ll be ready to go.”
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