IRISH PAIR PAID LIPE SERVICE

FELIPE CONTEPOMI says Johnny Sexton and Conor Murray are victims of their own success.

The half back pair have been off form in Ireland’s stumbling start to this year’s Six Nations, as Joe Schmidt’s side responded to their opening day defeat to England with two average performances in Scotland and Italy. Neither Sexton nor Murray have hit the heights expected – but former Argentina No.10 Contepomi says it’s not all down to the pair in the middle.

“Number nine and number 10 are the conductors in every team, but it’s not about them alone, everyone has to play their own part,” Contepomi said.

“When you make the calls, it’s like the quarterback in the NFL – when things go right and the team plays beautiful they give the credit to him, when the team doesn’t play well, they get on their back.

“Everyone has to play their part, everyone’s in the same boat.”

But the World Cup is still months away, and Contepomi (right) says there’s a long time to go before worrying.

“I still believe they’re in a good spot, three months ago they beat the All Blacks, they may not be happy, but it’s part of their learning and getting better, it’s what they have to go through to get better,” Contepomi said.

“The crucial moments will be those two to three months before the World Cup. Once they go into those two months before a World Cup, they switch mode to Ireland and they’ll be OK.”

WORRIED EXPRESSION Ireland manager Joe Schmidt says his players are lacking a bit of spark