...and Sexton’s drop goal was a thing of beauty
I HAD mixed emotions in the 83rd minute of Ireland’s game in Paris. On the one hand I had rather gone against the grain and predicted a France win to open the Jacques Brunel era, while on the other I am a fully paid up member of the Dropped Goal Fan club. I have always believed in their value and every team I have ever coached have had dropped goal drills for various scenarios within the game. So as Ireland went through
their remarkable 41-phase attack at the end, part of me was hoping the French could hang on. In fairness they did very well not to concede a penalty during that period and they made Ireland go from long distance. But another part of me admired the way Sexton went about his work. His team were tiring, they weren’t making ground and he wasn’t in the ideal position — although he was at least in
midfield. But Sexton took on the responsibility of making the call and that’s one of the reasons he is such an outstanding player in whatever team he plays for. And how well did he strike that ball? Superbly. My only criticism would be that perhaps Ireland could have employed a DG earlier in the game. At 12-6 up with the match stagnant in the third quarter, it could have kick-started Ireland
nicely. Ireland hadn’t looked like scoring a try. Winning is everything on the opening weekend of the Six Nations but that said — and despite the glory of Sexton’s dramatic clincher — Ireland will know they were a bit below par in Paris. There is work to do and knowing Joe Schmidt, he and his team will be on the case even as you read this.