Sexton biggest threat to Boks
3 Nov 2010
GAVIN MORTIMER, writing in the latest issue of SA Rugby magazine, analyses Ireland, South Africa’s first opponents on their Grand Slam tour.
Strengths
Ireland are the most experienced of the home unions with Brian O’Driscoll, Ronan O’Gara, John Hayes and Paul O’Connell boasting a total of 374 caps between them. Familiarity has bred contentment within the squad, while it’s also proved invaluable in bringing on a new generation of exciting talent, most notably No 8 Jamie Heaslip, flanker Stephen Ferris and flyhalf Johnny Sexton. Though no official announcement has been made, O’Driscoll will probably retire from Test rugby after next year’s World Cup, so expect a big season from Europe’s finest centre.
Weaknesses
Conversely, Ireland’s strength may also be their weakness. In 2003 an ageing England team just managed to remain at their peak long enough to win the World Cup but is this Ireland side on the wane? The core of the team – O’Driscoll, O’Connell, Donncha O’Callaghan, Gordon D’Arcy, Hayes, O’Gara and Jerry Flannery – are all in their 30s and with the game getting faster one wonders whether their legs and lungs will last the course. Then there’s their front row, the one area in which Ireland lack genuine talent. Hayes has propped up the scrum since 2000 but he’s just turned 37 and there are few challengers for his tighthead berth.
Key player
Sexton is still not the finished article but he has the potential to be a far more complete player than O’Gara ever was, his rival for the No 10 jersey. Whereas the latter is noted for his defensive frailties, the 91kg Sexton is strong in the tackle and likes to run at the opposition. The 25-year-old needs greater consistency in his goal-kicking but as he showed against Australia in June (when he slotted five first-half penalties) he appears to be improving in this area.
Game plan
With referees now favouring the attacking side, Ireland showed signs during their tour Down Under that they’ll be playing a more expansive style of rugby this season. When they won the Six Nations Grand Slam in 2009 it had a lot to do with the tactical kicking of O’Gara. But coach Declan Kidney now seems intent on adding more width to the Irish game using the speed of Lions trio Tommy Bowe, Luke Fitzgerald and Keith Earls.
Recent form
Since Ireland beat the Springboks a year ago at Croke Park they’ve suffered a dip in form. Yes, they beat England and Wales in the Six Nations but they were also hammered 33-10 by France and beaten 23-20 by Scotland in Dublin. Then there was the dispiriting tour Down Under where they lost all three of their games to New Zealand, the New Zealand Maori and Australia.
Team to play Boks
15 Robert Kearney, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Brian O’Driscoll (c), 12 Gordon D’Arcy, 11 Luke Fitzgerald, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Eoin Reddan, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 David Wallace, 6 Stephen Ferris, 5 Mick O’Driscoll, 4 Donncha O’Callaghan, 3 Tony Buckley, 2 Rory Best, 1 Cian Healy. Subs: 16 Sean Cronin, 17 Tom Court, 18 Donnacha Ryan, 19 Denis Leamy, 20 Peter Stringer, 21 Ronan O’Gara, 22 Keith Earls.
– For more on the Grand Slam tour, get the latest issue of SA Rugby magazine
85 Comments
Pages: « 1 [2] Show All
3 Nov 2010, 16:03 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy) : @46 – I’m 35, so we prob wouldn’t have been in school at the same time, or just missed each other. I went to Fairmont High.
3 Nov 2010, 16:04 pm
@GoBokkeAndIreland(GoBokkeAndIreland) : You go to an English or Afrikaans school?
3 Nov 2010, 16:06 pm
@Flametop(Flametop) :
@stormersboy(stormersboy) :
jeez
would you guys like some time alone.
I think the Nick’s Baabaas take shape thread is free.
just hang a do not disturb sign on the door.
3 Nov 2010, 16:07 pm
@GoBokkeAndIreland(GoBokkeAndIreland) : @51 I went to the other one in Parow. Settlers. I mat have been in Matric when you were in Std 6 then. Cool. I know a lot of Fairmont people. Good lot.
3 Nov 2010, 16:07 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy) : @ 49 – Yes I do as a matter of fact!
3 Nov 2010, 16:08 pm
Grunter
Hardenthefuckup.
3 Nov 2010, 16:08 pm
@GoBokkeAndIreland(GoBokkeAndIreland) : Older or younger?
3 Nov 2010, 16:10 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy) : @54 – Yeah, that timing is probably right. You guys were always our biggest rugby rivals! Anyway – nice to meet you.
3 Nov 2010, 16:11 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy) : @ 57 – 5 years younger.
3 Nov 2010, 16:11 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy) :
you’ll appreciate if I don’t tell you to do the same given your recent attempts at internet dating
3 Nov 2010, 16:11 pm
@GoBokkeAndIreland(GoBokkeAndIreland) : And you too Irish.
3 Nov 2010, 16:13 pm
@gunther(gunther) : Yeah I thought you’d appreciate the Irony there.
@GoBokkeAndIreland(GoBokkeAndIreland) : Ok then it’s not relevant
3 Nov 2010, 16:13 pm
@gunther(gunther) : @ 53 – Don’t get jealous now! Cheers guys, catch up tomorrow for more rugby chat!
3 Nov 2010, 16:31 pm
@funkyzoo(funkyzoo) : 36.
I could not have said it better.
3 Nov 2010, 16:54 pm
@Black Panther(Black Panther) : 31. Lots of derogatory comments about Sexton there i see. You do realise that he’s already won the Heineken Cup in 2009 with Leinster. Scored a drop goal from his own half that day (at sea level guys, not the high veldt). Ran the show against Saracens a few weeks ago, scoring all 25 points including a classy try. He’s everything ROG is not. Take your eye off him and he’ll punish you.
Our chant for him at Leinster is to the tune of the Kings of Leon song:
Whoo-oooh that Sexton’s on fiiiire!
3 Nov 2010, 17:00 pm
@ultra vires(ultra vires) : yeah….Sure it’s not to the tune of a Villiage People song?
3 Nov 2010, 17:28 pm
Ultra Vires
fair call and, as I said, he’s a massive improvement on ROG.
But he still looks hot’n'cold to me which is hardly the best criteria for Test rugby. AB fans are having to endure Donald Duck in the same position and Id be delighted if he was offering hot’n'cold but unfort it’s more like frostbite.
3 Nov 2010, 18:06 pm
the guy who runs Rugbydump reckons the Boks are in for a hiding, to use his own words.
3 Nov 2010, 19:13 pm
PdV and his 2 clowns are the biggest threat to the Boks.
3 Nov 2010, 20:23 pm
@gunther(gunther) :
Who asked you cupid?
3 Nov 2010, 20:32 pm
@fantasticbarnsmell(fantasticbarnsmell) :
As much as we are all wishing for a win – I honestly doubt we will get one! The style of play is so outdated and I don’t think the present coaching staff have what it takes to change things around.
He will choose Spies at 8, the one dimensional Steyn at 10 and the kick and chase will be the game plan!
3 Nov 2010, 21:15 pm
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots) : my fears exactly
3 Nov 2010, 23:16 pm
@fantasticbarnsmell(fantasticbarnsmell) : my fears too…ouch…here comes my migrane!
4 Nov 2010, 03:42 am
Ha! We all know Sexton isn’t the biggest threat. It’s the coaching staff.
4 Nov 2010, 04:32 am
O Gara is a **** wont be missed by anybody…
I think the boks are going to klapped if the combinations are wrong and players selected with little game time.
We can win it if we keep it tight and play percenatge rugby.
Whatever the Boks do dont turn your back on the Irish as we know what will happen.
4 Nov 2010, 04:41 am
One of South Africa’s most promising young rugby players has been banned for three months for the use of a banned stimulant.
4 Nov 2010, 05:36 am
Anybody know what happened to BigHit?
4 Nov 2010, 06:02 am
@KevinRack(KevinRack) :
That will be Goosen?
Someone said yesterday he bought over the counter suppliments which turned out to have the banned substance in it. Few Aussie atheletes was also ‘caught’ not long ago and we got an email two weeks ago warning us to check all supliments including things like Vit C and Zinc etc.
4 Nov 2010, 06:25 am
@Slartibartfast(Slartibartfast) : I had a stab at the proposed substance yesterday, words along the line of he probably had a double shot of espresso. Low and behold I read on 365 he had a hit of Jack 3D … whatever that is. Supposedly it is loaded with… caffeine.
Well, there you go… the kid needs to be de-caffeinated.
I’m sure if he were on the JD & coke they wouldn’t have raised an eyebrow… errr maybe not.
4 Nov 2010, 06:52 am
George Gregan got into alot of bother in Au telling school kids to dose up on caffiene before games. It does work but I have never taken it in undustrial doses yet. Yet
4 Nov 2010, 07:00 am
@KevinRack(KevinRack) : Anyone that drinks double shots knows the kick. But from my understanding (I just looked up Jack 3D) this stuff really boots like a mule.
I don’t reckon Georgie was advocating juicing up on Jack, probably educating the kiddies to the finer tastes in life. He does own a few upmarket cafes.
4 Nov 2010, 07:09 am
Nah he was pushing the good **** thats why he kopped it.
4 Nov 2010, 07:24 am
@KevinRack(KevinRack) :
There was a big story this year in league about guys filling up with caffeine when a player nearly died after a game. Not to be played around with…
4 Nov 2010, 08:29 am
@Slartibartfast(Slartibartfast) : The player I think you mean is Ben Cousins (AFL not league; story goes – mixed uppers and downers.
State of O guys were messing about with the same cocktail of No Doz and XXXXX ( I wont mention the drug) a few days before game time. Silly buggers.
4 Nov 2010, 16:51 pm
@RugbyRulz(RugbyRulz) :
Francois Pienaar was even more effusive when he said it was common to ‘juice up’ prior to CC in the old days, with the strong connotation it was amphetamines
Pages: « 1 [2] Show All
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.