Sexton reveals his Grand Slam and World Cup goals
REACTION: Ireland captain Johnny Sexton says his side must build on their 32-19 win over France and secure either the Six Nations title or Grand Slam with no repeat of their dip in form in 2019.
The 37-year-old talismanic flyhalf was part of the side that secured the 2018 Grand Slam but then went off the boil in 2019 and once again failed to reach the World Cup semifinals.
However, the present side made a statement of intent on Saturday with an impressive performance against last year’s Grand Slam winners France – Ireland and Scotland are the only teams remaining who can claim the Slam.
Their first-ever win over the French since Andy Farrell took over as head coach after the World Cup gives them two wins from two – they hammered Wales 34-10 last weekend.
It was a record 13th successive home Test win – breaking the mark set previously by the 2018 vintage – that cemented their position as the top-ranked team in the world.
A clearly upset Sexton had to go off for the final half an hour due to a groin issue – though his understudy Ross Byrne steered the hosts home.
“It’s been clear from the start, what we want to achieve,” he said.
“We won a Triple Crown last year but we want to go better this year.
“That’s what we speak about, to keep going on a trajectory like this as opposed to 2019 when we dipped.
“So, to get better is to win a Championship or a Grand Slam.”
Sexton was visibly moved at the outset, unable to sing the second Irish anthem as he lined up for the final time in a Six Nations match with France.
As hard a taskmaster on himself as those around him, the 2018 World Player of the Year says there must be no let-up in their preparation for the away trip to Italy in a fortnight.
“How you get better is by concentrating on the next two weeks and try and beat Italy away,” said Sexton.
“We obviously saw the game last week, how tough it was for France.
“This win will not be worth anything if we let things slip for the next game.”
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‘Happy go lucky’
Farrell – who also experienced the 2019 dip as he was assistant coach – said there is a bigger picture than keeping their run of form going.
“It’s never been about that,” he said.
“It’s just about us improving as a group, a realisation of where we’re at and where we need to get better, how hungry we are on a daily basis to try and achieve those goals.”
The former English rugby league great said this attitude was shared by both the coaching staff and players.
He contrasted the compliments the Irish received from outside the camp for their win over Wales to what they felt inside it.
“I asked the guys on Wednesday after all the reviews where do you think we are at and, to a man, everyone thought the performance wasn’t good enough,” said Farrell.
“We’ll do exactly the same with this now and keep pushing the standards. That’s all that matters to us really.”
Farrell, though, would not be drawn as to what impact such a win over the World Cup hosts could have later in the year in the sport’s quadrennial showpiece.
The Irish have yet to reach the semi-finals and they could play France in the quarter-finals.
“I know it’s boring for you guys but we’re just onto the next one,” said Farrell.
Sexton says a major reason for the successful run is the atmosphere created within the camp.
“The biggest part in our success is due to the environment,” he said.
“The coaching staff put together for us an enjoyable atmosphere, and we enjoy each other’s company.
“We work hard, mind you, it’s not all happy-go-lucky stuff.”
As for his groin he said he had time to get it back in working order.
“That’s life, I just have to look after it now,” he said.
“There is a little bit of life left in the legs!”
