IRELAND’S DEVIN TONER hailed the influence of out-half Johnny Sexton on his return from injury in yesterday’s 18-11 win over France.
The second row also welcomed the comebacks of Sean O’Brien and Cian Healy after long spells on the sidelines, as Joe Schmidt’s Ireland made it two wins from two in this year’s Six Nations.
Sexton’s kicking from hand was exceptional at the Aviva Stadium, while his passing was largely superb too. From the tee, the Racing Métro man kicked five penalties from five attempts to help him claim the man-of-the-match award.
“I’ve played with Johnny for years and he’s always the same,” said Toner after Ireland’s victory.
He’s always really good at controlling the game, really good at telling you what to do and really good at getting you around the corner and telling you when to tackle. He’s obviously a world-class operator.”
Back row Sean O’Brien completed almost the full game at openside flanker on his delayed return from 14 months of shoulder problems, the injury to Jamie Heaslip perhaps ensuring any plans Schmidt had to replace O’Brien late on were cancelled.
O’Brien had a six-minute stint on the sidelines when Rory Best’s yellow card meant Ireland needed to bring replacement hooker Sean Cronin onto the field.
“Sean thanked me for keeping him on for 80 minutes, he was delighted to get that,” said Schmidt. “He probably played 60 of those 80 and for the occasional minute in between he was probably getting oxygen into his lungs!
“But he trained really well all week, played really well.”
Healy, meanwhile, played the closing 18 minutes or so of the fixture, his first appearance on the pitch since hamstring surgery back in September. With the England clash on 1 March looming, the loosehead prop is showing eagerness for further involvement.
“Cian was doing extras out on the pitch after the game, he still had plenty left in the tank,” said Schmidt.
“So it’s great to get those guys back and that means there’s a little bit more internal pressure, it’s a little bit more competitive within the squad, because we’re going to have to be more competitive in some aspects of the game in two weeks time.”
Toner added his pleasure at having the Leinster pair back on the pitch, as Ireland look to retain their Six Nations title in the coming weeks.
“They’re obviously world-class players,” said Toner. “To have them back in the squad is hugely positive. I’ve played with both for a couple of years now and I think I’d be fairly familiar with them. So it’s good having them back.”
We’ll need from 1 to 15 and to 23 all firing for this day 2 weeks. The Chariot singing lads are a whole different proposition.
They haven’t got 155+ kg guys though. That’ll do wonders for our chances. Plus, their forward pack is unconvincing at times, and the backs make up for it.
Great win and terrific to see Sean O Brien back, but we butchered our only real try scoring opportunity. We were hanging on for the last ten minutes. England are mentally very tough after going down 10 nil in the first ten minutes against Wales they stuck in and bullied their way back into the game. If we get a chance we will have to make them all count. we cant rely on penalties to beat England.
Just incredible. Glad there’s another article telling us about the incredible game yesterday. We need Statues of all of the lads along Paul o Connell street. Just incredible.
How’s Heaslip ?
As the article says, that will be confirmed tomorrow, but the rumours going round are that there is real concern over a fractured vertebra. If this is true, then Wolverine blood or not, its a minimum of 6-8 weeks for bony tissue to knit back together.
Don’t know where this rubbish about the English pack is coming from. They are a serious set of players. Haskell has to be weak link though. He’s a penalty machi e usually, Robshaw is under-rated, 26 tackles against Wales…thats a staggering amount of work. Vunipola is a wrecking ball. They may be limited in what they do, but they are well coached and drilled. Certainly wont be a walk in the park or anything remotely close to it.
I’m not sure anybody who’s opinion is worth listening to thinks he is underrated anymore.
He’s a top notch 7, one of the best in business.
He really is. Not sure why I’m getting red thumbs. I’d take him at Munster any day.
Thats not what was said. At all. I was saying that Robshaw is no longer underrated by anyone who knows anything about rugby.
After the wrecking ball of France I’d be more confident that we can handle England forwards power on a level par. Joe will plan a boring but well excuted strategy for the “Biffos”.
I think we’ll do it…