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Connacht assistant attack & skills coach Mark Sexton. Tom Maher/INPHO

'Mark, like his brother, is a fiery character' - Connacht legend hails impact of coach Sexton

Tiernan O’Halloran says new assistant attack and skills coach has been a revelation since stepping up from academy.

CONNACHT’S LONGEST SERVING player Tiernan O’Halloran says that Johnny Sexton’s younger brother has been a revelation since stepping up from the academy to coach the senior side this season.

Mark Sexton, two years younger than the retired Irish skipper, is Connacht’s assistant attack and skills coach this season under Pete Wilkins.

It’s the latest role for Sexton, whose playing career was impacted by a broken leg when he was 16 but who now has almost a decade of coaching under his belt, including the Irish U-20s this year.

O’Halloran, who was in many Irish training camps with Johnny Sexton, sees the strong similarity between the brothers.

“It’s been really enjoyable and it has been tough! Mark, like his brother, is a fiery character,” said O’Halloran. “They are similar enough. But I think it’s good, he demands high standards similar to what Johnny always did and I think that rubs off on all of us.

“At the start he was probably a small bit surprised at how quiet we were at times when we made mistakes and not pulling each other up, whereas now we are very much on top of each other, again in a positive way, trying to help each other out, demanding higher standards, demanding quality.

“I think that has been really good, that Mark has been driving. Just little small details around shapes we are running, it is a good bit different from last year. It’s probably easier for younger lads coming in because they were probably with Mark in the academy and knew what he wanted but for some of the older lads like myself there was a bit of adjustment because obviously you build up habits over the years so I’ve had to kind of tweak them and learn them and that’s what that long preseason was good for.

“But it’s been really good, really enjoyable and really challenging at times. Don’t get me wrong you have a go back at him at times but you know what he is trying to do and it’s for the good of the team.”

Sexton wasn’t in the side on any of the occasions when O’Halloran won his six Irish caps but he sees plenty in his new skills coach to remind him of the retired Irish skipper.

“I didn’t actually play with Johnny but I was in camp many times with him over the years and you get to know his characteristics and mannerisms and he always wanted world class standards and in fairness Mark is very similar to that,” added O’Halloran.

The 32-year old from Clifden won the first of his 223 Connacht caps way back in October 2009 and is still enjoying his rugby as much as ever in his 15th season with his native province.

“I have always been excited to come in here and I think the day I don’t I won’t be playing rugby any more. It’s a matter of balance, mentally being in the right place and physically getting your body prepped for the season as well. Thankfully I haven’t had any terrible injuries that I haven’t been able to get back from and that’s thanks to the great medical staff here as well,” he added.

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    Mute Guybrush Threepwood
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    Oct 12th 2017, 3:38 PM

    No interest in the game now but was a Newcastle fan at the time and have to say it’s hilarious to hear Shearer say that as you could practically see him shaking when Keane squared up to him.

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    Mute Anton Friendo
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    Oct 12th 2017, 3:43 PM

    @Guybrush Threepwood: Fun times

    its boring now

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    Mute Stephen Lyons
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    Oct 12th 2017, 5:08 PM

    @Anton Friendo: Yeah that type of game died out in the absence of the likes of Keane, Gatusso, De Jong etc. unfortunately..

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    Mute Guybrush Threepwood
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    Oct 12th 2017, 5:27 PM

    @Guybrush Threepwood: It was the norm in school to support English soccer. Enlightenment happens only when you leave the education system.

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    Mute Niall Browne
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    Oct 12th 2017, 4:22 PM

    If you read craig bellamys autobiography, he played in that game , he said Shearer was the last one off the pitch at the end of the game because he knew Keane was waiting for him

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    Mute Gerry Ivie
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    Oct 12th 2017, 7:31 PM

    @Niall Browne: Bellamy is going to say that isn’t he? Seeing as Shearer battered him in Dawson St when they were over here. Bad mouthed him too when he thought a transfer away from St James Park was happening. Nearly shit himself when it fell through and he had to show up there for training.

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    Mute Niall
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    Oct 12th 2017, 9:25 PM

    @Gerry Ivie: it was Keith Gillespie that Shearer punched in Dublin.

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    Mute James Murphy
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    Oct 12th 2017, 6:03 PM

    Probably a lot bias here. Both great players and true warriors representing their respective teams. Love Keane but also like Shearer for being a great number 9. Hope Kane breaks his record though!

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    Mute Gustave H
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    Oct 12th 2017, 8:33 PM

    Grown ups arguing about one man’s ability to beat up another when the know neither and have never seen either actually fight.

    The level of cringe is spine tingling.

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    Mute Eoin Long
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    Oct 12th 2017, 11:38 PM

    @Gustave H: I don’t think anyone is arguing here. Everyone seems to be in agreement that Shearer looked genuinely afraid of Keane during that particular confrontation. Which was understandable to an extent, because Keane’s lack of self control and reckless abandon was rarely more evident than during that game.

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    Mute Stephen Lyons
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    Oct 12th 2017, 4:30 PM

    Funny considering that you could visibly see the point when Shearer sh*t himself at the time

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    Mute Stonerpug
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    Oct 12th 2017, 3:38 PM

    You wouldn’t have had it in you Alan. Stick to throwing balls at him from a safe distance you coward.

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    Mute The Bloody Nine
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    Oct 12th 2017, 4:50 PM

    @Stonerpug: it was Keane who threw the ball as well as the punch. Shearer did the smart thing and stood there while Roy had a meltdown and got himself sent off in the last minute for no reason.

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    Mute O'Brien Michael
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    Oct 12th 2017, 10:58 PM

    @The Bloody Nine: You are 100% Correct.Shearer was too smart for that nonsense

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