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.
Hopefully the trio make it! They are an integral part of our Six Nations squad. Keep it up lads!!!
@Ollie Fitzpatrick: lowe and Dan are part of the 6 nations squad but connors is nowhere near that squad. Hodnet, timoney, pendergast are all way ahead of him. Not to mention with conan going to 8 we have doris who can play 7 as can POM. Infact I’d rather see Scott penny get time for leinster than will.
@chris mcdonnell: I completely agree. I’d ate my own underpants if Connors is named tomorrow
@Niall Boyle: hopefully those pants are in better condition than the pair I wore on Sunday
@Niall Boyle: I’ll hold you to that
@chris mcdonnell: with the best will in the world POM cannot play 7 in the 6 Nations.
Hope they don’t rush Sheehan back this Saturday. 50 mins against the Stormers on the 25th of Jan and then into the 6 nations squad. Connors now needs to stay fit for the rest of the season if he wants to ever make an Ireland squad, at nearly 29 time is running out
Lowe is too slow. Osborne a better long term bet.
@conor carroll: Osbourne isn’t a wing, he can do the job but he’s a 12 or 15. Lowe being “slow” didn’t stop him being named in the world XV this year or being one of our best performing players.
@conor carroll: not on the wing he isnt,hes not a winger and it showed on sunday,great 12 and 15,lowe though offers far more on the left wing,breaks tackles,carries,big left boot and has vastly improved his defence,also always goes hunting for the ball and gets stuck in to mauls and excellent under the high ball,pace is not everything.
@conor carroll: Interesting statement. If you actually watched rugby you’d see that Lowe is probably quicker than Osborne in a foot race. Osborne has many, many strengths. Pace isn’t one of them.
@conor carroll: Nash is the pace merchant played all the 6 nations last year
Honestly, is Lowe still a starter for Leinster? I just really can’t see how you leave out Jamie Osborne even if he was rusty on the wing at the weekend, like his skill level for that try was ridiculous. He also has just a big left boot as Lowe.
@Eoin H: lowe is the left winger for both ireland and leinster.
@Eoin H: Osborne isn’t a winger and should only be playing there in a pinch. Lowe is also the better player generally right now
@Gary D: He definitely isn’t the better all round player generally, no way
@Eoin H: Well he has been a starter for the last 7.5 years. And he was a starter right up until his injury. Osborne is far far better utilised at 12 or 15. Let’s just play lads in their correct positions.
@Eoin H: I partially agree with you. Osbourne has an ability to hold on to passes that others would knock on and is too good to leave out of the team. Lowe is a try scoring machine as well though so not sure I’d leave him out either. I’d probably play Osbourne at 12 and leave Henshaw on the bench for impact