JOHNNY BE GOOD
Sexton needs to bounce
JOHNNY SEXTON has dismissed the theory that he has been suffering from the pressure of being named World Player of the Year last November.
A stellar 2018 saw the Leinster and Ireland out-half contribute hugely to Pro14 and European Cup triumphs for his province as well as a Grand Slam, series win over Australia and victory over New Zealand.
However, since scooping the highest individual honour in the game, Sexton has suffered from patchy form while battling injury issues and was visibly frustrated during Ireland’s disappointing Six Nations campaign.
Nonetheless, as he prepares to take on Toulouse today in a highly anticipated European Cup semi-final at Lansdowne Road, Sexton insisted the burden of being named the best player in the world had no impact on his subsequent struggles.
‘No, not at all,’ he said at Leinster’s Captain’s Run press conference yesterday.
‘I said it at the time, that is people’s opinion in that moment in time. Obviously 2018 was a special year but I remember sitting at the table before the awards. My wife told me I was very relaxed about it and I said: “If I win it, it’s a stick to beat me with, if I don’t win it, I don’t mind”.
‘It’s people’s opinion. I would much rather win a trophy because you guys can’t sit there and say: “Leinster haven’t won four stars, four European Cups”.
‘But we have and you can’t take that away. But you can argue about whether someone is playing well or someone is not playing well.
‘You can all have your opinions about that but you can’t take away trophies and that is why I love being here and trying to win competitions because that doesn’t get taken away from you,’ he added.
Sexton acknowledged that the level of scrutiny and criticism is at an all-time high in the era of social media and numerous platforms for punditry, but claims he is able to block the majority of it out.
‘It has probably gone to a new level maybe,’ he says of the criticism. ‘But it is something that I have gotten used to. I have been used to it since I have been in school.
‘It’s not something I pay too much attention to. I know the facts. I know what actually happened. I am lucky that I am surrounded by coaches that know the game really, really well. I listen to their advice and I try to ignore as much of the noise as I can.
‘It is hard because people want to come up to you in the street and ask you if you are okay. You know it’s bad when that’s happening.
‘It’s something that you get used to with experience. I’m looking forward to getting out there.’