Sexton drops in with late winner
A relieved Johnny Sexton admitted to a feeling of relief after slotting a last-gasp dropped goal to give Ireland a 15-13 Six Nations victory over France in Paris.
The Irish first five-eighth snapped a 44-metre goal after Joe Schmidt’s team put on 41 phases in the final minute of play at Stade de France yesterday.
‘‘I went back to many years ago when we played Treviso away and I was in that exact same position, almost identical situation, and I just flashed back to that. I had a pop,’’ Sexton said.
‘‘The lads’ legs were out and I don’t think we could have gone another couple of phases so just got there in the end.
‘‘The management drill us every day that it’s never over and we’ve got some good characters in the team and we just wanted to get off to a good start.’’
Sexton said he felt he had to atone after missing an earlier penalty which could have sealed the game for Ireland.
‘‘It was one of those moments. I was just happy I got another chance,’’ he said.
‘‘I had a kick to go two scores clear and I just snatched at it. At the last moment something caught my eye.
‘‘I was just happy to get another chance to get the victory for the boys. We’ve worked so hard for the last two weeks.
‘‘All that would have crumbled today if we had lost. It’s great to be in the position that we are now after getting an away win.’’
The French looked out of it until a superb converted try by right winger Teddy Thomas swung it in their favour and made it 13-12 with only eight minutes to go.
Replacement flyhalf Anthony Belleau made the conversion but blew a penalty shortly afterward, giving the Irish time.
They used it with extraordinary composure to work into the French half, going through nearly 40 phases of play before appearing to stall around halfway. Then came the moment.
Sexton showed a sniper’s eye and nerves of steel to unleash a jaw-dropping pot kick from 44 metres.
As its descent appeared to slow down, it just crept over the crossbar to send Irish fans into absolute delirium.
Sexton could not quite believe it, taking a second to check it was given before he was mobbed by his team-mates.
France’s players dropped to their knees in a mixture of exhaustion and frustration. So much effort for so little reward.
It might have felt harsh on
France, but although Jacques Brunel’s new-look side showed courage and persistence, defeat would have been harsh on Ireland.
Meanwhile, Warren Gatland claimed he wasn’t surprised at the way Wales walloped an overhyped Scotland to kick off their campaign in style in Cardiff.
Wales’ whopping 34-7 win included a four-tries bonus point to give Gatland’s side some confidence ahead of next weekend’s visit to champions England.
‘‘It was an afternoon I was expecting the way we’ve trained in the week. There was a quiet confidence in the squad,’’ Gatland told BBC Wales.
The New Zealander - who was celebrating 10 years in charge of Wales - said the Welsh ‘‘expected to win and win reasonably comfortably’’.
‘‘The chief executive of the Welsh Rugby Union asked me yesterday how I thought we’d go and I said I thought we’d win by 20.
‘‘Apart from a soft try at the end it was a great defensive display, and it was great to get the bonus point as well. We can improve again for next week.’’
Valid expectations of a tight contest - Wales without eight Lions, more than 500 caps, and Scotland willing to give it a lash - were ripped up in the first minutes as Wales started fast with two tries to lead 14-0.
Scotland settled and drew the majority of possession but kept dropping passes or conceding penalties and didn’t stress the Wales defence until the very end.
England played Italy overnight.