Johnny Sexton, a four-leaf clover captain – Liberation

Supposedly the toughest opponent of the XV of France, Ireland will rely as for ten years on its star opening half who, despite his 37 years and a body battered by concussions, retains a vision of the game and a technical accuracy world class.

This time it will be there. Absent from the last two games against France in the Six Nations Tournament, the opening half “Johnny” Sexton will orchestrate the Irish offensives this Saturday, at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. And it’s a whole team, a whole people blowing, as Ireland prepares to welcome Antoine Dupont’s band, stripped of several key members – right prop Tadhg Furlong and scrum half Jamison Gibson-Park , among others. The XV of Clover may have in its ranks the best player in the world 2022, in the person of Josh van der Flier, Sexton still remains its most reliable barometer, despite his 37 years. Coach Andy Farrell reminded him on Tuesday: he didn’t “no doubt in [sa] head” on the Sexton case.

XXL winners

His ball-in-hand, ball-to-foot precision, his “rugby IQ”, his crucial decision-making, his outspokenness will be crucial assets if Ireland finally wants to overcome the French, the only nation in the world top 10 to still have him. have stood up in recent years. And Andy Farrell knows ‘Johnny’ knows the recipe. Like this afternoon of February 3, 2018 at the Stade de France, during the first day of the Six Nations: a lethal drop unleashed from more than 40 meters, after three minutes of additional time, to offer the victory on the wire (15- 13). Ireland will end the competition with the Grand Slam, closing the year as the best player in the world. It’s simple, with Sexton in its ranks, Ireland have lost only once against France since 2012, for six wins and two draws.

With him, Ireland loses very little, as the maestro of Leinster with the almost unhealthy requirement is able to transcend himself, his troops with, in hot moments. Just take a look at his production last weekend – twelve points, five successful attempts out of five on foot – during the inaugural rout against Wales at the Millenium Stadium (34-10). Beyond the pitch, the most interesting was the aftermath: “I don’t think I’ve ever been as nervous as before this game,” slipped the Dubliner. Intriguing in the mouth of a player with an XXL record, and experienced in cleaver encounters.

Repeated concussions

He does not detail the reasons, but we guess that Sexton fears less the adversary in himself than the physical hazards which he could pay the price. Since his captaincy in Japan during the 2019 World Cup, the Irishman has had a string of injuries. Against Wales on February 4, he landed without any bearings or almost: victim at the beginning of November of a crutch against South Africa, the opener has only been able to play sixty-three minutes since, on the occasion of a game between his club Leinster and Connacht. The time to injure his cheekbone, prompting yet another operation.

Rebelote against the Welsh last weekend, since the star opener still had to be replaced ten minutes from time, shortly after suffering a high tackle. The Irish staff say they have looked at him from all angles. A way of saying that he takes into account his liabilities as a player damaged by concussions, these shocks to the head which upset the functioning of the brain (headaches, loss of consciousness, transient amnesia, etc.) and whose symptoms can last several hours or days after impact.

Five Star Squad

Rugby remembers the February 2021 episode, when neurologist and concussion specialist Jean-François Chermann argued that Sexton – whom he had as a patient – ​​would have already suffered around thirty concussions and subconcussions (lighter impacts) in his career. The interested party had just taken the knee of the Welsh third line Justin Tipuric in full temple a few days earlier, before having to forfeit against France.

The controversy contributed to placing the health of the players at the heart of the discussions, at a time when a collective awareness was born among several Anglo-Saxon rugby players, victims of significant post-career sequelae, which continues today in France. Some worry about Sexton, wondering if he will grow old without brain damage. Luxury of an elite athlete: the person concerned has himself set the age of his retirement – ​​at 38, after the 2023 World Cup, his fourth. “The young guys help me. If I didn’t have fun with them and being on their team, I wouldn’t play anymore. They are the biggest factor [de ma longévité]», he explained last week. The World Cup remains the black point of his career. He never made it to the quarter-finals. But with a five-star squad – Ireland is the first international nation – he is more than ever eyeing the title next October. One of the few missing from his list.