Sexton setback a blessing in disguise for Ireland — Farrell

Losing captain Johnny Sexton to injury shortly before Saturday’s 13-10 victory over Australia was a blessing in disguise for Ireland as they tested their squad depth and resolve ahead of next year’s World Cup, coach Andy Farrell said.

Sexton, the linchpin of Irish rugby for the last decade, injured his calf in Saturday’s warm-up, handing rookie flyhalf Jack Crowley his first international start with regular understudy Joey Carbery also out injured.

Farrell said it was far from his side’s best performance — they struggled particularly in attack without Sexton’s playmaking influence — but they ground it out to ensure finishing the year as the world’s top-ranked side.

“It was great for us in so many ways, for Jack to get the start, just to see how he could handle that type of situation and as a group to help Jack out and I thought the kid stood up tall,” Farrell told a news conference.

“We were devastated for Johnny, he wants to help the lads put in a good performance but at the same time even Johnny knows that it’s good us, we find out where we’re at and how we need to adapt.”

The scrappy win gave Ireland a 2022 hat-trick of victories against the three southern hemisphere heavyweights, including July’s first-ever Test series victory in New Zealand.

It also highlighted again just how reliant they are on Sexton.

With Ireland desperate to progress beyond the quarterfinals at a World Cup for the first time in France next year after so many disappointments in the tournament, Farrell maintained his side have plenty to improve on for February’s Six Nations. “We ve got to get better and raise

’as’always, our standards,” Farrell said.

“We have a lot to do, which is great and that s the reality.

“There are certain aspects of our game, that we’d love to get better.”

Australia’s Andrew Kellaway, Hunter Paisami, Dave Porecki and Taniela Tupou are definitely out of this coming weekend’s final northern hemisphere Test series finale against Wales, coach Dave Rennie said.

Centre Paisami left the field after just three minutes with a knee problem, hooker Porecki was concussed, fullback Kellaway sustained a foot injury and prop Tupou was carted off clutching his Achilles in pain a minute after coming off the bench.

Number 8 Rob Valetini is also doubtful with an ankle injury, Rennie said after his side slumped to their ninth loss in 13 games this season a week after their first-ever defeat to lowly Italy.

“We’ll be going to the depths of the squad again but I guarantee you there are guys itching for another opportunity after the Italy effort.

“The medics are going to be busy,” the under-pressure coach told a news conference.