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Ireland’s Johnny Sexton in action against Romania. Dan Sheridan/INPHO

Sexton's return helps Ireland's attack find its rhythm again

The 38-year-old hit the ground running after a six-month absence.

IRELAND WERE NEVER going to learn a huge amount from their World Cup opener against Romania but if it wasn’t clear beforehand, this squad’s hopes of creating history in France rest largely on the fitness and form of a 38-year-old entering the final weeks of his career.

After five long months and 22 days, Johnny Sexton returned to action as Ireland kicked off their World Cup campaign with an 82-8 defeat of Romania under the sweltering Bordeaux sun, and after his suspension-enforced summer on the sidelines, it looked like he’d never been away.

Of course, everything about Ireland’s performance today comes with a big fat asterisk. Romania are ranked 19th in the world and are the third-lowest ranked side at the World Cup. Ireland won’t have the same time and space on the ball when they take on Tonga next Saturday, let alone the Springboks and Scotland in the weeks ahead. 

Still, Andy Farrell will have been reassured to see Sexton hit the ground running on his return to the team following such a lengthy layoff, with a groin injury sustained against England in March followed by a three-game ban for his angry outburst at the Champions Cup final in May.

It would have been understandable if Sexton looked a little rusty against Romania but as it happened, he was one of Ireland’s brightest performers on a thankfully stress-free day in Bordeaux.

This is a squad bursting with talent but it is quite remarkable that no player is more important to Ireland’s hopes of creating history in France than a 38-year-old preparing to hang up his boots.

jonathan-sexton-leads-out-the-team Sexton leads Ireland out at the Stade de Bordeaux. Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO

Jack Crowley and Ross Byrne are able deputies but the simple fact is that Ireland’s attack runs far more smoothly when Sexton plays. 

Not that it was picture perfect for the Ireland captain – after a lengthy passage of kick-tennis in the opening minutes, Sexton attempted to play in Keith Earls with a grubber from deep that never really looked on. Hinckley Vaovasa scooped up the ball and played in scrum-half Gabriel Rupanu, who ran the ball home to hand Romania a shock early lead.

From there, Ireland and Sexton settled, and before long their attack was purring with the out-half at his influential best – playing square, running straight and luring defenders in before moving the ball on at the last moment.

It took just two minutes for Ireland to respond to that opening Romania score; Jamison Gibson-Park finishing a fine move that was kick-started by Sexton doing what he does best – drawing in centre Jason Tomane and delaying his pass before releasing Bundee Aki. The Connacht man found Ringrose and in a flash, Gibson-Park was running in Ireland’s opening try.

With Sexton directing matters and displaying nice variety with his passing, Ireland always looked capable of carving a limited Romania side open. 

He was heavily involved again when Hugo Keenan added Ireland’s second, showing quick hands inside to Peter O’Mahony before James Ryan burst forward and set-up Keenan, who did well to finish under pressure.

He was there again in the build-up to Tadhg Beirne’s score on 17 minutes, holding his pass as Keenan burst forward before slinging the ball back out to Lowe. 

When Ireland’s multi-phase attack clicked into place, Romania simply couldn’t live with their speed and accuracy. 

jonathan-sexton-with-jason-tomane-after-scoring-a-try Sexton with Jason Tomane of Romania after scoring a try. Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO

Ireland will have been frustrated not to have converted more of their scoring opportunities in the opening 40 but Sexton capped a fine first-half display with a try of his own, running in under the posts with the last action of the half – a bang to his left hand thankfully turning out to be nothing more than a stinger.

There may have some temptation to take Sexton off at the break but with his hand not a concern, he was sent out to get another 16 minutes in his legs.

After the break, he even got the chance to showcase his defensive capabilities with an important tackle on the rampaging Vaovasa, before throwing himself over the line from close range to score Ireland’s eighth just after the hour mark, adding the conversion to bring his tally for the day to a record-equalling 24 points. With the game long won they were important contributions, leading the charge as others around him began to fade.

When he was finally called ashore on 65 minutes, he did so to a standing ovation. This is Sexton’s fourth World Cup but never has an Ireland team looked better placed to go all the way. 

Nobody will be getting carried away just yet, but today Sexton was instrumental to helping clear the first hurdle in impressive fashion. The next two months could yet prove to be the biggest days of his career. 

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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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