All Blacks will target Sexton warns Best

JOHNNY Sexton is a Lions casualty in waiting according to former England coach Dick Best.

Best, who presided over two victories over New Zealand in 1993 – the first as Lions assistant coach when the tourists won 20-7 in Wellington during a cliffhanger series, and the second when England beat them 15-9 a few months later at Twickenham – says fly-half Sexton is simply too injury-prone to survive the brutal 2017 tour itinerary.

The Irish playmaker is a certainty to be named in the 2017 tour party to New Zealand to be announced in London on Wednesday. Best told The Rugby

Paper in an exclusive interview that the Leinster 10’s litany of injuries since he starred in the Lions series win in Australia four years ago, as well as his courage, make him a liability.

“He won’t last the tour – and that’s if he doesn’t get hurt before the tour starts. Sexton is a brave boy who will not pull out of tackles.”

Best says that should Sexton get on the plane to New Zealand without any further mishaps over the next six weeks he will have a target painted on his back as soon as he steps onto the tarmac in Auckland.

“The New Zealanders know Sexton is important to the Lions, and so I wouldn’t be surprised if they targeted him. They’ve