Leinster ‘hopeful’ Sexton will win fitness race in time for Six Nations restart

JOHNNY SEXTON is expected to be included in the Ireland squad, which is set to be named tomorrow, but the Ireland captain is in a race to prove his fitness in time for the Six Nations restart against Italy later this month.

The 35-year old tweaked his hamstring in the first half of Leinster’s win over the Dragons last weekend and was replaced as a “precaution”.

Although the setback is not said to be serious, Sexton has been ruled out of Saturday’s trip to Treviso, which means that he is unlikely to play again before Ireland’s clash with Italy on October 24.

It’s the latest headache for Andy Farrell, who is already sweating over the fitness of his three first-choice tightheads – Tadhg Furlong (calf ), Andrew Porter (hamstring) and Tom O’Toole (ankle) – as well as Munster duo Conor Murray (thigh) and Dave Kilcoyne (ankle).

Sexton (below) will be given every chance to return in time for the Italy game, with Leinster backs coach Felipe Contepomi admitting that he wasn’t overly concerned by the outhalf ’s injury.

“He was taken off more as a precaution than really a serious injury that you could tell that he could be out for one, two, three or four weeks,” Contepomi said.

“I think he’ll be fine, yeah, definitely.

“You know how muscle is composed of quick fibres and slow fibres, I think I have all slow fibres because I never tweaked a muscle, so I don’t know how that feels. I’ve been lucky.

“But it’s not about age, I think it’s more about how you look after yourself, how you prepare and Johnny’s the full pro, so it’s definitely that he’s been training brilliantly and he’s in very good shape.

“There are a load of components, it’s not just age that will tell you,

‘Oh, will take you longer’ or, ‘You will heal quicker.’

There’s a lot of variables.

“I think in his case, he’s a quick healer normally and he’s a guy who hasn’t got, touch wood, too many bad injuries in his career, so he’s a guy that you can say is robust and hopefully he’ll be running completely fit for the internationals.”

Ross Byrne is set to slot back into the Leinster No 10 jersey this weekend, which will provide the 25-year-old with an ideal chance to remind Farrell what he is capable of.

Byrne is likely to be in the Ireland squad, with Contepomi believing that he is constantly improving his all-round game.

“He’s a great player, definitely,” the Argentinian insisted.

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“I think we are very lucky with the 10s we’ve got, Ross, Ciarán (Frawley) and Harry (Byrne). “Ross is getting better and better at every training session, not even talking every game, definitely. “I don’t know if he’s gone under the radar. Maybe he hasn’t got that many chances but I’m sure that when he gets them, he’ll take them, and he’s a really, really good player.”

Jamison Gibson-Park is another Leinster half-back who has caught the eye recently.

The Kiwi scrum-half, who became Irish-qualified last year, has spent time in Ireland camp, but was left out of the Six Nations squad. Contepomi, however, is confident that Gibson-Park is ready to make the step up to international rugby and win his first cap.

“When Jamo comes in, he needs to exploit his strengths, he is very, very quick, lightning quick for a nine, I would say,” Contepomi added.

“He kicks really well with his left and right peg and that’s great because he gives us different options. He is international level and is definitely close.”