By Josh Dutton -
November 26th 2009 @ 2:22am
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Loading ...Sexton given the vote of confidence
The Irish have been calling for it for years. The Argentineans call him Ronan No Ganar, which translates simply as “Ronan doesn’t win.”
In fairness, the Irish fly-half has been in fluctuating form since his match-winning drop-goal that galvanised the Irish into a frenzy of celebrations not felt in over 50 years.
The Irish welcome the might of an out of sorts Springbok outfit who have lost three of their last four matches. Surely this is not a time for experimenting when the opportunity to scalp the World Champions and current Tri Nations holders is on the menu.
Johnny Sexton has been watched closely for years now and the man took his chance when he was handed it last week landing two penalties and five conversions in Ireland’s 41-6 win over Fiji.
He’s a spritely young fly-half with a solid kicking game, crisp pass and improved place-kicking.
Surely, this youngster can’t compare to the experience of O’Gara? It’s a bold move and Declan Kidney has made plenty in the last few months.
It must be remembered that O’Gara has steered Ireland to two of Ireland’s three victories over the South Africans. His cheeky tap and run for the try-line against a completely against completely unexpected Springbok defence will remain in Irish folklore for years.
Hopefully Sexton’s appointment with the ‘Boks is met with confidence and precision against his opponent in the guise of the powerful, potent, point-scoring boot of Morne Steyn.
Sexton’s promotion over O’Gara definitely shows the confidence placed on the young man’s shoulders but he should be able to measure up to it. He’s definitely one to watch for the future.
Ireland team:
Rob Kearney, Tommy Bowe, Brian O’Driscoll (capt), Paddy Wallace, Keith Earls, Jonathan Sexton, Tomas O’Leary, Jamie Heaslip, David Wallace, Stephen Ferris, Paul O’Connell, Donncha O’Callaghan, John Hayes, Jerry Flannery, Cian Healy.Replacements: Sean Cronin, Tony Buckley, Leo Cullen, Denis Leamy, Peter Stringer, Ronan O’Gara, Gordon D’Arcy.
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Viscount Crouchback said | November 26th 2009 @ 2:55am | Report comment
Watching the maladroit performances of Giteau, Carter and Wilkinson over the past weekend has reminded me that that O’Gara, at his peak, was an absolutely phenomenal player. He made a lot of quite difficult stuff – such as kicking into space and landing the ball on a sixpence just inside the sidelines – look easy. Granted, his tackling is poor (though a lot better than Danny Cipriani’s) and he can’t pass consistently from his left hand – but still, this is a big call by Kidney and I’m not sure if it’s one I agree with. Sexton looks solid, but I’m not sure he has that X-factor.
Darwin hammer said | November 26th 2009 @ 8:53am | Report comment
VC – surely you’re not trying to put OGara in the same class as Carter ? … operating on just 2 cyclinders Carter is still on a different planet to O’Gara
pothale said | November 26th 2009 @ 9:20am | Report comment
Darwin – re-read what he said: “O’Gara, at his peak, was an absolutely phenomenal player.”
He was. His reading and direction of matches was superb for both club and country. His kicking stats speak for themselves. People easily remember the mishaps, the poor tackles, and the Lions fluff. If you’ve watched him over his career, he has had plenty of fine moments on the field, and ranks as one of the best flyhalves, not just for his country, but also in the world game.
And don’t take my word for it – you can find equally praiseworthy comments from Carter about him.
VC, is not saying, and neither am I, that he is better than Carter. Neither do I accept that operating on 2 cylinders, Carter is better than him. There may be some skill levels between flyhalves, but at the top level, it’s not that wide.
To keep you happy, O’Gara said last year that he saw Carter as his role model – that Carter was no 1 in the world, O’Gara wanted to be at least No 2. A fine compliment to an undoubted star of the game.
PastHisBest said | November 26th 2009 @ 10:52am | Report comment
Cobblers.
“People easily remember the mishaps, the poor tackles…” Exactly. This is not the stuff they remember about the truly ‘phenomenal’ number 10’s.
“And don’t take my word for it – you can find equally praiseworthy comments from Carter about him.”
I won’t. What’s Carter going to say?? That O’Gara is a goose and can’t tell his arse from his elbow? Come on Pothale…
pothale said | November 27th 2009 @ 3:31am | Report comment
Come on what? PastHisBest.
PastHisBest said | November 27th 2009 @ 11:18am | Report comment
He ain’t ‘absolutely phenomenal’.
Chris said | November 28th 2009 @ 9:23pm | Report comment
At his best O’Gara had the best kicking game in world rugby bar none.
PastHisBest said | November 26th 2009 @ 10:48am | Report comment
“Granted, his tackling is poor (though a lot better than Danny Cipriani’s) and he can’t pass consistently from his left hand”
For these very reasons he was most definitely not “an absolutely phenomenal player”, as you so enthusiastically describe him VC.
In many ways I believe his shortcomings restricted the Irish backline for many years.
Darwin hammer said | November 26th 2009 @ 11:08am | Report comment
I agree with this – he’s not “an absolutely phenomenal player” … he’s consistently come up short against the SH teams – the true test of a 1st 5 that wants to be considered “great” ….
quoting what other players say is an exercise in recalling bumpf and soundbites – Carters hardly going to say he’s limited in the extreme and a turnstyle in a 10 jersey – but he can kick quite nicely …
PHB is right is saying that his play has limited the Irish – their rankings would have been better served with someone with a bit more game – a Tony Ward for example
Knives Out said | November 27th 2009 @ 11:32pm | Report comment
I think that O’Gara has been an excellent playmaker for Ireland. His passing is incisive and he reads the game well. Not only that but he has a nice turn of pace and when operating on the gain line is far more threatening than a lot of other test 10s: Wilkinson, Steyn, Jones, Gower… 14 tries for a player who has solely played 10 is an impressive feat.
pothale said | November 26th 2009 @ 3:15am | Report comment
VC – I think he has it.
Whatever the Argentines think of O’Gara (and his 2 H Cup medals, 4 Triple Crowns, and a Grand Slam speak for themselves), it’s necessary for Ireland to have competition for spots. At the beginning of the season, I said that the Autumn Internationals could be treated by Kidney as a win at all costs series, and/or he could find room and time for development of players. The critical spots are 1, 3, 10 and possibly 7 given the changing nature of the role this year and the deleterious breakdown scenario.
Sexton has been an up and coming for the last couple of years. He worked under Contemponi at Leinster and then got his chance to shine when Contemponi got injured. Sexton didn’t falter. He masterminded the semi-final trouncing of Munster and kicked a 40m drop goal in the final in the first ten minutes, before coolly slotting the winning kick.
I was in the RDS last weekend for his test debut. Despite miserable cold, and driving rain, his performance was superb for a newbie. First catch in the game and he was off and running. He slotted 7 from 7 – two out on the sidelines.
If Kidney doesn’t try him out now, when should he?
It’s also a good unknown factor to throw into the mix for the Boks. They expected to have O’Gara, and no doubt would have hounded him because of the last-minute penalty he gave away in the Lions series. Sexton will give them pause for thought – which is no bad thing.
Win or lose, I hope he has a good game, and that it sets him up for a regular slot in the 6 Nations next year.
Viscount Crouchback said | November 26th 2009 @ 3:28am | Report comment
Cheika was very sceptical about Sexton though wasn’t he, Pothale? It took him ages to put him in. I wonder why that was? Undue caution or has he seen something he’s not too sure about? I’m always slightly dubious about young players who come in and do well first up – let’s see them get through their second season before we get too excited.
PastHisBest said | November 26th 2009 @ 10:56am | Report comment
I don’t think anyone is getting too excited VC. However on first blush I agree with Pothale that he does have ‘it’. Now will that translate into a long term tenure in the Ireland 10 jersey? Time will tell.
Dublin Dave said | November 28th 2009 @ 4:39am | Report comment
“Cheika was very sceptical about Sexton though wasn’t he, Pothale? It took him ages to put him in. I wonder why that was? ”
VC Cheika tended to play Sexton in Magners League games to bring him along but for the big HC gamess he would play Felipe Contepomi at 10. Which kind of answers your question. Contepomi, at his peak, was world class. A superb distributor. A great eye for a counter attack. Not a bad kicker. And well able to make a break himself. No criticism for a young player to play second fiddle to someone like him.
pothale said | November 26th 2009 @ 3:46am | Report comment
Well, Sexton has just turned 24. He was competing for a spot with one of the best regarded playmakers in the Northern Game. He was wobbly, but I’d also say that the absence of a good regular 9 in Leinster didn’t help matters. Reddan’s arrival this season was a good move in forming a strong alternative partnership to the Munster one. Boss and Humphreys aren’t doing too bad either.
I accept that one should remain dubious/reserve judgement – but in order for them to have a comparative second season, you have to let them play. Sexton’s positional kicking and precision kicks are not as good as O’Gara’s but those were honed over time and 90 odd caps for his country.
Lee said | November 26th 2009 @ 4:52am | Report comment
“His cheeky tap and run for the try-line against a completely against completely unexpected Springbok defence will remain in Irish folklore for years”
Similar to the way Henry’s handball will remain in French football folklore? : )
Chris K said | November 26th 2009 @ 5:13am | Report comment
Yeh mate exactly, the springboks are still calling for blood because of it after all these years som much so that the springboks asked for a replay. What was the result for the replay by the way?
Lee said | November 26th 2009 @ 5:22am | Report comment
Replay? It was a refing blunder, they happen every game(in all codes), no matter how aggrieved you feel you deal with it – I just like how the article completely glosses over the ref’s error in that try.
pothale said | November 26th 2009 @ 6:05am | Report comment
Paul Honiss is still reviled in the Land of the Long Whine Cloud for that piece of reffing.
I like the fact that Josh sees it as a ‘completely unexpected Springbok defence’. Is he trying to imply that they were prepared for it after all, then?
It’s hardly in Irish folklore, though. Most people forgot about it, until it’s the next time to play South Africa, and then it’s dragged up again.
But as PdV made very clear, this match is not about revenge.
Lee said | November 26th 2009 @ 6:21am | Report comment
Come on Pothale, every nation has it’s share of angst against certain decisions;
BOD in 2005 Lions, NZ world cup 2007, SA – Ireland 2004 just for recent examples, and they all still get brought up.
And besides, like the Henry handball, both are clear errors by the ref, and I have a funny feeling the Henry incident will still draw anger from Irish fans 20 years later e.g the “underarm” delivery in NZ
PastHisBest said | November 26th 2009 @ 10:59am | Report comment
“Paul Honiss is still reviled in the Land of the Long Whine Cloud for that piece of reffing.”
Paul Honiss is reviled for a lot of reasons in NZ Pothale, but over this decision? Not likely, most NZ’ers would be rapt if Ireland got one over the boks.
pothale said | November 27th 2009 @ 3:34am | Report comment
Long Whine Cloud was spelt intentionally to not be a reference to NZ, PHB. I was maybe too subtle with my word play. I don’t regard NZ as whiners.
PastHisBest said | November 27th 2009 @ 11:20am | Report comment
I’m confused. So what do you mean by this statement?
“Paul Honiss is still reviled in the Land of the Long Whine Cloud for that piece of reffing.”
pothale said | November 28th 2009 @ 1:12am | Report comment
LLWC=SA
Josh Dutton said | November 27th 2009 @ 8:22am | Report comment
Haha, it was completely unexpected pothale. It wasn’t set defence at all. I think that’s what makes it amusing and it did prove to be the difference between those two sides that day (Ireland won 17-12). I’m bad at detecting sarcasm
In all honesty I think very highly of O’Gara but believe the Irish backs might get better ball with a more expansive fly-half. They really do have one of the most underrated backlines in the world.
Thanks for all the comments again guys. I always enjoy a bit of intelligent rugby banter.