STAGE WAS IDEALLY SET FOR SEXTON
AFTER 41 PHASES, JOHNNY’S DROP OF GENIUS
WHEN replacement fly-half Anthony Belleau hooked a penalty wide with just over two minutes left, Ireland were afforded one last chance to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. When a player like Johnny Sexton is on the field, that is all this team needs. As Sexton caught Belleau’s wayward kick, the Ireland No 10 sprinted to the 22-metre line to restart the game. Five minutes and four seconds later, Sexton would be watching his 42m drop goal sailing over the posts to steal the win. The scenes of pandemonium in the Stade de France were preceded by an enthralling 41-phase attack from the visitors. With the match clock reading 77.15, trailing 13-12 and with Belleau lining up his place kick, Ireland looked dead and buried. In truth, Joe Schmidt’s men should have been out of sight. They had 68-per-cent possession but had just four Sexton penalties to show for it. A 12-6 lead is never enough against Les
Bleus and so it proved as Teddy Thomas weaved through the defence for a stunning solo try in the 72nd minute to snatch the lead and seemingly the game, too. But Belleau’s miss gave Ireland hope. ‘We had belief,’ said flanker Dan Leavy, who replaced the injured Josh van der Flier. ‘We said when Teddy scored, just get the ball back and hold on to it, make our way down the field, try and get a penalty, or if we can, score. ‘Johnny has the biggest balls on the planet and he managed to kick it.’ Sexton sparked Ireland’s frantic finish with a pinpoint restart which Iain Henderson did brilliantly to regather. For the next 304 seconds, Ireland held on to the ball and went through phase after phase to eke out a penalty or drop-goal chance. For all their industry, Ireland needed a moment of magic. After CJ Stander made his 25th carry of the game and with the clock reading 82.42, Sexton stood in the pocket and the rest is history. His last-gasp clutch kick was all the sweeter as it atoned for a missed penalty on the hour mark. Bundee Aki, who was outstanding on his Championship debut, was first to mob Sexton. ‘It was a special one,’ said the centre. ‘Johnny, I look up to him. He’s got a massive heart. To have that courage to nail that kick, it’s only world-class players who step up, put their hands up and nail those moments. And he did.’ Scrum-half Conor Murray said the squad might ‘get a bit of stick in the review for celebrating like footballers’. But who would begrudge them such a moment? The narrative of the tournament has changed for Ireland. They will host Italy, Wales and Scotland. That final-day showdown with England at Twickenham looms large. For Schmidt, the master tactician who has guided Ireland to wins over New Zealand, South Africa, Australia and England in the past 18 months, the feeling was relief. But make no mistake, Ireland are a force and a result like this will do wonders for their confidence. And with Sexton, anything is possible.