O'Gara: Expect a 'very hungry' Sexton to perform

Ronan O'Gara has said that Johnny Sexton has used his injury-enforced time off the field well, and that he is "ready to perform" in Ireland's RBS 6 Nations clash with France on Saturday.

Sexton has spent nearly three months on the sidelines on doctor's order after suffering symptoms relating to repeated concussions, but has been passed fit to return and is contention to be selected as outhalf when Joe Schmidt names his side on Thursday.

Speaking to RTÉ Sport, O'Gara, who works with Sexton at Racing Metro, backed him to start the game, and to have an impact.

Asked whether Jonathan Sexton was an automatic starter for a game O'Gara back Ireland to win, now that he is fit again, despite his prolonged absence from the game, O'Gara's answer was simple: "No question."

"I can't see how he'd start on the bench. I think what is to be expected is [that] his timing might be out for the first 20 minutes, but he'll gradually gain that as more and more of the game goes on.

"And it's a bonus if he hits the ground running; an absolute huge bonus, because that'll just give him even more confidence.

"But I think he knows he has the work done, he's mentally strong. I just think he's going to perform; he's ready to perform."

"He can do extra fitness, extra weights, extra skills, extra kicking, extra whatever he feels he needs to work on" - Ronan O'Gara

O'Gara also spoke about what is involved for a player in returning after a long absence like Sexton. He said that Sexton was fortunate that the nature of his injury had not affected his ability to practice his kicking and other skills needed for the out-half role.

"It's very, very difficult if he hasn't done much ball work, but the fact that he hasn't been laid up with a knee injury [is a positive].

"From a rugby point of view, [Sexton's] is the best possible injury. Obviously it can be the most disturbing injury, but it's the best possible injury from a sportsman's point of view.

"If it's not a serious concussion ... he gets the opportunity to work everything. So, he can do extra fitness, extra weights, extra skills, extra kicking, extra whatever he feels he needs to work on.

"And that's exactly what he's done. He's been working hard for the last 12 weeks, and he's been very smart about how he's, I suppose, prioritised his work. I think you're going to see a very, very hungry Johnny Sexton."

O'Gara said that French out-half Camille Lopez would provide a stiff challenge for Sexton, and said the Clermont Auvergne player had the key attribute needed to be an out-half in that "mentally he's strong".

"He's going to come under pressure away from home, and it's going to feel like he's playing against the whole stadium at times, and even his team-mates mightn't be putting in the required work, so he'll be the person it'll all fall back on.

"But I think you've seen in Thomond Park (in Clermont's Champions Cup game last December), when he probably missed his first two kicks, and then he nailed his hardest kick."

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