JOHN HAYES’ RECORD has fallen. The Bull had been Ireland’s oldest player ever at the age of 37 years and 277 days when he made his last international appearance against Scotland in 2011.
Now, Johnny Sexton holds that particular record, while he closed in on another one with an impressive 24-point haul in Ireland’s 12-try victory over Romania in their World Cup opener.
Sexton is 38 years and 58 days old. He is just nine points off Ronan O’Gara’s all-time points-scoring record for Ireland, having scored two tries and seven conversions in Ireland’s 82-2 win over the Romanians.
“The most pleasing point for us was definitely 60-odd minutes under the belt and firing on all cylinders and fit and healthy and ready to go for the rest of the competition,” was Andy Farrell’s view of Sexton’s outing in Bordeaux.
The man himself was delighted to be back in action after nearly six months on the sidelines through injury and suspension, although there was a typically self-critical edge to his appraisal of his 66-minute performance.
“I’m delighted to get through some minutes,” said Sexton. “We got through some good stuff, but there’s lots to improve on, both individually and as a team, and we know the challenge next week [against Tonga] is going to be up a couple of levels.
“We’re very, very happy with five points, and a good points difference as well, which could matter at the end of the pool.”
Sexton was pleased that he came through his return unscathed. It was a groin injury that sidelined him back in March but he appeared to be in excellent physical condition against Romania.
“You’ve got to go and show it, it doesn’t matter if you’ve trained hard. When it comes to the game, the pressure is different, the intensity is different,” said Sexton.
“So, I definitely needed a game for sure to test it out. I’m happy with some stuff, and not so happy with other things. I don’t think you ever play a game where you’re 100% happy.”
As for the brief injury worry just before half time, Sexton said he had got an accidental stamp on the wrist while he was scoring.
Even though this is his final hurrah in rugby, Sexton said he’s not wasting time worrying about getting injured again.
“I’m not scared,” said Sexton. “When you play rugby, you’ve got to be prepared to be injured.
“It’s a tough game, it’s physical, and if it happens it happens. I can’t go into games worrying about anything really. I’ve just got to go and play and hope your body holds up.”
A question came from a French journalist around Ireland’s collective kicking game but it was lost in translation and Sexton initially thought it was a question criticising his individual kicking game.
“I thought the French were having a go at me again!” said Sexton with a smile once the question had been clarified.
Even accounting for the weak opposition, it was a demanding afternoon’s work for Ireland in the searing heat of Bordeaux, so Sexton insisted they have to be pleased with their opening-weekend display.
“We were talking about it after,” said Sexton. “We’ll never use it as an excuse because it’s the same for both teams, but the conditions were incredibly tough. Even the warm-up, I was talking to the lads and they just felt like they were burning.
“Thankfully, we had a couple of water breaks and half time to regroup.
“I thought we got better as the game went on, which was the most pleasing thing from a fitness point of view. The second half, we found our flow a bit better, so it’s pleasing on that front.”
Sour grapes from Cheika. The knee on Conway was by far the worst incident in the game. Australians are always terrible losers though.
@Jim Demps: so are we to be fair
@domas1507: disagree! By international standards (us, English, Australia) we’re not too bad. Honest about how shite we are when we are if anything
@Jim Demps: Entirely agree… have seen this kind of cynical ‘tackle attempt’ a few times now and it’s clearly not intended to stop the score, but to injure the scorer.
These need to be picked up and sin-binned.
@domas1507: you definitely get off on self flagellation.
@Bruce Van der Gutschmitzer: wrong comment, wrong place.
@domas1507: I never get this. Everyone last week said Australia deserved to win, that they had our number and out played us. We also had justified complaints about some shoddy refereeing, but it wasn’t sour grapes, it’s just another element of the game you can dissect.
@Conor Paddington: some would say complaining about refereeing decisions after you loose, justified or not, is being a bad looser
@Conor Paddington: that’s nonsense, you can rationally dissect a game and be honest whether your team win or lose, and refereeing is a part of that. The ref was bad last week and that is not why Ireland lost amd Australia deserved to win. That is not sour grapes.
@Conor Paddington: I’m not talking about last weeks game exactly. It’s easy be a gracious in defeat when you clearly loose. The sign of a gracious loser is is accepting defeat when you think you should have won. Think ireland v new Zealand in Dublin and a certain French striker for examples of what I mean.
@Jim Demps: the knee? He was legitimately trying to stop a try , he was hardly just going to let him stroll in
@domas1507: @domas1507: well a blatant double handball and determined ignorance of fifa officials is fair enough to critique. Neglecting to give yellows for a knock out shoulder charge and a clothesline would wind you up too. In that case, I’m a sour c¿nt!
@Trevor Reilly: I think he was def trying to injure him… barely laid a hand on him but still dropped the knee into him. Sorry, but for me it was deliberate.
@Bruce Van der Gutschmitzer: don’t be harsh on yourself, you’re just a bad looser
@Jim Demps:
Every country have their whingers and complainers. Australians are no different to ourselves, England, Wales etc.
@domas1507: like true troll resentment feeds me!
@Trevor Reilly: There is nowhere on the field that you are allowed to tackle with the knee. If he was legitimately trying to stop a score why not try to get under the ball with his arms/body?
I like Australia. But they play some highly questionable rugby when it comes to legality. Cheika can do one if he’s going to complain about off-the-ball incidents considering there were a raft of Australian incidents both last and this week.
Cheika can F right off… his players were hitting Irish players off he ball and / or late all evening and getting away with it most of the time!!
Make no mistake. They know that deep down theyll never be able to force Ireland into infringement issues.
I see us getting it done in Sydney. #TeamOfUs
Again some awful referee decision even with TV match officials and touch judges. Hard to understand that they cannot get it right?
I know some will think it’s pedantic but can we stop with this ‘first win in Australia in 39 years’ business it’s not. It’s Ireland’s first away win against Australia. I saw Ireland win in Adelaide 15 years ago.
@Ted Od: first away win against Australia sorry in 39 years.
@Ted Od: it’s pedantic!
That ref was the Pitts … who let him on a pitch…. he was very 2 sided….well take the win .
@Sean Beirne: Two sided? Maybe one side too many? Or not…
Bloody whinging Aussies ( said in an Alf Stewart voice )
It was a shocking challenge
…definitely should be cited