Sexton: The regions’ poor form is irrelevant

IRELAND captain Johnny Sexton reckons there is no correlation between the Welsh regions’ poor European form and Wales’s Six Nations title hopes.

With Wales’s four professional sides again struggling in Europe, attention has been drawn once more to what that means for the health of the sport here.

And, given the spate of injuries Wayne Pivac has had to deal with, it’s understandable why few have built up the prospect of Wales defending their Six Nations crown.

However, Sexton, a vital part of a Leinster side which has continually challenged for Euro honours, believes the Welsh regions’ European form will have little bearing on how Wales get on in the coming weeks.

“To be honest, there’s no correlation between [Europe and] how the Six Nations starts,” he said at the official Six Nations launch yesterday. I remember having this exact conversation about five years ago when the Irish provinces were flying and the Welsh regions were struggling. They beat us.

“I’m a bit surprised by the question given they had such a great Six Nations last year.”

When asked whether, as an outsider, it surprised him that Wales continually achieve more in the national game than the regions, Sexton admitted the national team were always more than the sum of their parts.

“It doesn’t surprise me as I know a lot of these players through the Lions,” he added.

“Their big focus is playing for Wales. It means so much to them. That’s why they’re so successful because when they come into Wales camp, it’s all they’ve worked for.”