Ireland bank on Sexton
24 Nov 2009
Jonny Sexton will start at flyhalf against South Africa while veteran Rona O’Gara will warm the bench.
O’Gara’s flagging form and the memory of costing the British & Irish Lions the series earlier this year may have contributed to this decision. O’Gara gave away a penalty at the death of the second Test which Morne Steyn duly slotted.
Sexton made his Test debut against Fiji last week, so this represents his first real opportunity against top-flight opposition. Declan Kidney has also opted for the centre combination of Paddy Wallace and Brian O’Driscoll, with Gordon D’Arcy sitting on the bench.
Stephen Ferris and Denis Leamy are named in the 22 but are reportedly battling injuries and may miss Saturday’s clash.
Ireland – 15 – Rob Kearney, 14 – Tommy Bowe, 13 – Brian O’Driscoll (c), 12 – Paddy Wallace, 11 – Keith Earls, 10 – Jonathan Sexton, 9 – Tomas O’Leary, 8- Jamie Heaslip, 7 – David Wallace, 6 – Stephen Ferris, 5 – Paul O’Connell, 4 – Donncha O’Callaghan, 3 – John Hayes, 2- Jerry Flannery, 1-Cian Healy.
Subs: 16 – Sean Cronin, 17 -Tony Buckley, 18 – Leo Cullen, 19 – Denis Leamy, 20 – Peter Stringer, 21 – Ronan O’Gara, 22 – Gordon D’Arcy.
19 Comments
24 Nov 2009, 15:59 pm
Fresh Dragon
24 Nov 2009, 16:05 pm
Debut boy, get big men to run at him, Brussow to haunt him and since they believe we are bully boys- dont dissapoint them
24 Nov 2009, 16:08 pm
@Bellboy: Sexton is an outstanding tackler for an out-half and won’t offer the turnstile like efforts of ROG. Personally I would be delighted if thats best SA can muster tactically.
24 Nov 2009, 16:17 pm
Is the bench gold-plated for the important O’Gara?
24 Nov 2009, 16:23 pm
Deysel is a destructive runner for a flanker. I said months ago that Sexton should start ahead of ROG. Its still a debut, and should be exploited. I’m sure whiley PdV and co will have their own tactics up their sleeve- they’ll need it cos the Boks’ reserve tank light came on a few miles back!!
24 Nov 2009, 16:23 pm
Thats if Deysel gets the nod
24 Nov 2009, 16:41 pm
Fourie du Preez licking his lips at the prospect of the inexperienced flyhalf… O’Gara on Irish soil is still a good player… I haven’t followed his domestic form though… has he struggled then?
24 Nov 2009, 16:50 pm
i cannot believe that tickets are 180 pounds for this game??
i also cannot believe that my brother in law, mother in law, father in law have left for dublin!
my brother in london and his mick mate (named….wait for it….mick!
) are also going!
fark me the ranger is not happy about this state of affairs.
24 Nov 2009, 16:54 pm
@Kiddo: His form has been pretty poor this season, whereas Sexton has been outstanding. This is a lad who thrives on the big stage, just look at him against Munster in the Heineken cup semi and against Leicester in the final. He seems to have it all, defense, good kicking from hand and tee and a decent break.
P.S. technically it isn’t his debut as he started against Fiji on saturday and was man of the match!
24 Nov 2009, 17:09 pm
@rangerman:
clearly they don’t enjoy your company… no doubt you will console yourself by slapping some kudu that has passed its sell-by date on the fire…
24 Nov 2009, 17:20 pm
@gunther:
i was just about to say that the only upside to in-laws going away is….in laws going away!
and yes, the wife is making gemsbok fillet stir fry tonight. served with a decent white (it is a bit muggy for a red imo) i am sure the evening will work out just fine.
after touch rugby and beers at the club of course.
24 Nov 2009, 18:29 pm
its taken Ireland 10 years but finally they have got rid of the weak link in there backline. Ok he can kick but that guy would be the worst defender in International rugby
24 Nov 2009, 19:38 pm
Sexton to get a jolly good rogering…Bully Boks to live up to their tag
24 Nov 2009, 19:39 pm
@west: Nope…that would be Adi..!!
24 Nov 2009, 19:41 pm
@rangerman:
maybe a lightly chilled pinot noir wih the gemsbok?
24 Nov 2009, 19:54 pm
Hope the Boks go in fighting. They better intimidate before being intimidated as happened with the France game. The Boks will have just too much firepower
24 Nov 2009, 20:11 pm
@Richie_7: Yip…here’s hoping they’ve saved their best for last..!!
24 Nov 2009, 21:57 pm
O’Gara has had a tough international year – costing the Lions and then had a bad game against Aus 2 weeks ago. Still, starting with Sexton in a game of this magnitude is a big call.
25 Nov 2009, 00:01 am
Irelands chances boosted considerably with anyone other than O’Gara at flyhalf.
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