Sexton: I’d rather beat Aussies than win accolades
Ireland captain Johnny Sexton insists he would rather beat Australia than be crowned world player of the year.
Fly-half Sexton has declared himself fit to face the Wallabies after missing last weekend's underwhelming 35-17 success over Fiji due to a dead leg.
The influential 37-year-old has guided his country to a Six
Nations Triple Crown, a historic tour win in New Zealand, the top of the global rankings and victory over world champions South Africa this year.
He was previously named World Rugby's player of the year in 2018 but, ahead of Saturday's autumn finale in Dublin, saidheismoreinterestedinproducingonthefieldthanindividualaccolades."it'salwaysniceto be recognised like that, I'm not going to lie," Sexton said of his nomination.
"It's not something you go searching for but to be recognisedinthatareaisveryspecial.
"I would prefer a win and to play well on Saturday than win that, because ultimately at the end of the day it's opinion.
"Whereas what you produce on Saturday is what you see and it's the only thing you can control. All my focus is on that and to be recognised is enough."
Sexton has been shortlisted fortheawardalongsideireland and Leinster team-mate Josh van der Flier, South Africa centre Lukhanyo Am and France captain Antoine Dupont. The Leinster star suffered his injuryinireland's19-16winover thespringboksatthestartofthe month and revealed he initially feared being forced to sit out again this weekend.
"Last week was a bit of a struggle with swelling and fluid," he said. "It was just managing that and then making sure I get the right amount of training in this week to be able to perform but alsonotdotoomuchthatswells it up again. It's good to go, feels good and I'm ready."