M
SM
Saturday, March 16

Six Nations

Mar 16, 2019 at 2.45pm UK
Wales
vs.
Ireland
 

Game Menu

Ireland fly-half Sexton aiming to halt Wales' winning run

The star playmaker is confident Ireland can topple Wales in Cardiff.
By Nick Purewal, | 3d

Johnny Sexton believes Ireland are the right team to spoil Wales' Guinness Six Nations Grand Slam party.

Talisman fly-half Sexton cited Ireland's previous form for ending opponents' record winning runs as positive proof that Joe Schmidt's men can prevail in Cardiff on Saturday.

Wales are already on an all-time record 13-win run, and one more at the Principality Stadium this weekend would seal a first Six Nations clean sweep in six years.

Ireland ended New Zealand's 18-match winning streak with the 40-29 victory in Chicago in November 2016, then stopped England at the same tally, denying Eddie Jones' men a 2017 Grand Slam with a 13-9 triumph in Dublin.

"I don't know if Wales feel like they're invincible, they're saying that they've forgotten how to lose and all of that," said Sexton.

"They've eked out some results, we've played well against teams that have gone on runs before; New Zealand, England; stopping their runs.

"Again, we'll give them the respect that they absolutely deserve. We'll analyse them, we'll talk about where we can get at them, where we think they are very strong and we'll come up with a plan.

"I don't think we'll talk too much about the psychology of them.

"I'm sure there is a lot of pressure on everyone for every international.

Johnny Sexton, left, fires the scoring pass to Jacob Stockdale, right, in one of the highlights of Ireland's Six Nations campaign (Ian Rutherford/PA)

"I know from talking to some of the Welsh lads on previous tours that the expectation in Wales is huge all the time and it will be at its highest this week to get a Grand Slam.

"They don't come around too often.

"They will be under pressure, but so will we. We want to finish on a high and win a championship.

"We still have a shout and we know that if we get a performance then the pressure is on England and they you never know what might happen."

Captain Rory Best will play his final Six Nations match in Saturday's Cardiff encounter, with the evergreen hooker intending to retire after the autumn's World Cup.

Vice captain Sexton hailed Best's stewardship, insisting Ireland want to make the most of the rest of the Ulster star's time at the helm.

Asked to outline Best's leadership qualities, Sexton replied: "Do you have half an hour? Look I think he's been a brilliant captain for us over the years.

Rory Best, pictured, will play his final Six Nations match when Ireland take on Wales in Cardiff (Lorraine O'Sullivan/PA)

"Always team first, Always very selfless and leads on the pitch with his actions.

"He leads off the pitch too and he's a great character to have around.

"Sometimes if the lineouts are not always going well, if the right decision is to go for the corner he'll still say go to the corner, and he'll take responsibility.

"That's the sign of a brilliant captain; he does what's right for the team all the time. We'll miss him when he's gone but we've got a lot of time left with him so we'll make the most of it."



amp_article_353158 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2019-03-12 16:15:49:
html db last update - 2019-03-16 12:00:02 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html

Click here for more stories about Johnny Sexton

Click here for more stories about Ireland

Share this article now:

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
UC
Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!
Recommended Next on SM
Robin McBryde: Ireland are arguably the best side in world rugby
Zidane 'wants Sterling as part of Madrid overhaul'
Jurgen Klopp: 'Liverpool will not spend big'
Best backs Ireland youngster Ryan to come of age up against Wales talisman Jones

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Select and display your favourite team's news and scores in this panel
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City30242479215874
2Liverpool30227168175173
3Tottenham HotspurSpurs30201957322561
4Arsenal30186663392460
5Manchester UnitedMan Utd30177658401858
6Chelsea29176650311957
7Wolverhampton WanderersWolves30128103836244
8Watford30127114244-243
9West Ham UnitedWest Ham30116133743-639
10Leicester CityLeicester30115143842-438
11Everton30107134142-137
12Bournemouth30114154154-1337
13Newcastle UnitedNewcastle3097142938-934
14Crystal Palace3096153641-533
15Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2996143242-1033
16Southampton3079143450-1630
17Burnley3086163457-2330
18Cardiff CityCardiff3084182757-3028
19Fulham3045212868-4017
20Huddersfield TownHuddersfield3035221553-3814
Scroll for more - Tap for full version

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
UC
Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Select and display your favourite team's news and scores in this panel
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City30242479215874
2Liverpool30227168175173
3Tottenham HotspurSpurs30201957322561
4Arsenal30186663392460
5Manchester UnitedMan Utd30177658401858
6Chelsea29176650311957
7Wolverhampton WanderersWolves30128103836244
8Watford30127114244-243
9West Ham UnitedWest Ham30116133743-639
10Leicester CityLeicester30115143842-438
11Everton30107134142-137
12Bournemouth30114154154-1337
13Newcastle UnitedNewcastle3097142938-934
14Crystal Palace3096153641-533
15Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2996143242-1033
16Southampton3079143450-1630
17Burnley3086163457-2330
18Cardiff CityCardiff3084182757-3028
19Fulham3045212868-4017
20Huddersfield TownHuddersfield3035221553-3814
Scroll for more - Tap for full version
X

We value your privacy

A part of our GDPR compliance we need to ask for your consent. We and our partners use technology such as cookies on Sports Mole to personalise content and ads, provide social media features, and analyse our traffic. Click below to consent to the use of this technology on Sports Mole.