Rugby: Sexton wants French win to be launching pad for Grand Slam

DUBLIN – Ireland captain Johnny Sexton says his side must build on their 32-19 win over France and clinch either the Six Nations title or Grand Slam, with no repeat of their dip in form in 2019.

The 37-year-old talismanic fly half was part of the team who secured the 2018 Grand Slam but then went off the boil in 2019 and once again failed to reach the Rugby World Cup semi-finals.

However, the current side made a statement of intent on Saturday with an impressive performance against 2022 Grand Slam winners France.

Their first win over the French since Andy Farrell took over as coach after the 2019 World Cup gives them two wins from two – they had hammered Wales 34-10 away on Feb 4.

The victory also gave the Irish a record 13th successive home Test win – breaking the mark set previously by the 2018 vintage and cementing their position as the top-ranked team in the world.

Sexton, who will retire after the 2023 World Cup, was upset when he had to go off for the final half-hour due to a groin issue – though his understudy Ross Byrne steered the hosts home.

The skipper 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 against France.

The 2018 World Player of the Year added that there must be no let-up in their preparation for the away trip to Italy in a fortnight.

Saturday’s Test at the Aviva Stadium was the first time in Five and Six Nations history that the world’s two top-ranked teams had gone head-to-head.

But hosts Ireland looked superior for most of the match, as they stopped France’s 14-game unbeaten run and also ended their three-game losing run against the visitors.

Anyone doubting Ireland’s claim to be the best team in the world – on the back of their Series win in New Zealand in 2022 – will struggle to make an argument, after yet another performance that showed their wonderful mix of attacking speed and intensity and utterly committed and organised defence.

Hugo Keenan’s try put Ireland ahead but France hit back with a brilliant counter-attack finished off by Damian Penaud. Ireland regained the lead with an extraordinarily athletic finish by James Lowe and added a third through prop Andrew Porter.

France stayed in touch with three Thomas Ramos penalties but trailed 22-16 at half-time after one of the best 40 minutes the competition has seen for years.

The second half was tighter, but Ireland were disciplined in holding France at bay before Garry Ringrose crossed for the fourth try to cap off a superb display.

With a potential clash with World Cup hosts France in the offing later in October, Sexton said: “It is good to get that off our back in terms of beating them. They were the only team we hadn’t beaten.”

While Farrell hailed his team’s character, his France counterpart Fabien Galthie had no complaints about the result.

He said: “We deserved the defeat, we were overwhelmed in important moments... We have to admit that the best team won and this game will give us a lot to analyse and keep us ambitious.”

Next up for France are Scotland, who are in buoyant mood ahead of the clash at the Stade de France, having won their opening two games of a Six Nations for the first time, following a 35-7 triumph over Wales on Saturday. The Scots are the only other team who can claim the Slam.

Scotland captain Jamie Ritchie: “If we play to our best, we can beat any team. We’ve got more in us.”

AFP, REUTERS