CARBERY MOVE WAS STRANGE, CLAIMS SEXTON
JOHNNY SEXTON thinks Joey Carbery’s switch to Munster is ‘strange’ and warned his former teammate he won’t be able to give away all of Leinster’s trade secrets. Following the retirements of Isa Nacewa and Jamie Heaslip, Sexton has been named club captain and admits he was surprised to see his Irish understudy leave the Leinster set-up. And, while Sexton believes Leinster will benefit from the arrival of Joe Tomane from Montpellier and the bank of knowledge from his days preparing to face the province, he doesn’t think Carbery can prep Munster in the same way. ‘We’ve got a new coach in Felipe [Contepomi], so he [Carbery] doesn’t know all of our new calls,’ said Sexton. ‘I haven’t spoken to Joey much since he’s gone down, I suppose he left in fairly strange circumstances. ‘We didn’t think he was going to go at various stages and then it was announced that he was gone, so it’s disappointing from a Leinster point of view because we’re not in a position to replace that player, but we wish him well and hope it works out for him.’ The return of Contepomi to the province in a coaching capacity is an
exciting addition to the Leinster management this season and, having learnt his trade as the Argentinian’s number two, Sexton is excited by what he will bring to the squad. Leinster have lost Girvan Dempsey to Bath from their attack department, but with the fiery Argentinian to fill the void, the new Leinster skipper anticipates an exciting campaign. Sexton said: ‘He’s [Contepomi] been brilliant so far, he was finding his feet at the start — [things like] getting used to the language again. ‘From the rugby side of things he’s been brilliant, he’s been looking at areas where he thinks we can improve and we’ve gone about trying to do that. ‘I know him personally, I think the guys will probably get to know him more when the competitive games start and he starts to get really into it. ‘At the moment it’s all very calm, but the best of Felipe will come out when... I’m looking forward to seeing him lose his rag, that’s what I’m excited about.’ Leinster’s major off-season signing was former Montpellier centre Tomane, and Sexton thinks he will make a real impact. The former Australian international will be a key member of the Leinster squad with Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose sure to feature heavily for Ireland in the lead up to the World Cup, and Sexton thinks he will be a real asset to Leo Cullen’s side. ‘We’ve only seen him once really in half a game and a little bit in the Newcastle game. ‘We obviously know him being a really good player, he’s got a good pedigree and so far he’s had a really good impact on the squad and with the young guys particularly. ‘He’s got big shoes to fill in terms of trying to replace Isa, we all have to share that load in terms of replacing him and let Joe concentrate on bedding in and making an impact whatever position he plays. ‘It’s good to get his perspective on how he prepared against us as well, because for two years we played Montpellier so he has prepped against us so — it’s interesting to see what they did to stop us and to beat us. ‘It’s good to get that perspective, too.’