French Players and Media Gunning for Sexton

By @rugbyradio

Ireland and France have been exchanging pleasantries ahead of this Sundays Pool D decider, with various compliments flying in from both sides. A number of French players and media have been paying particular attention to Ireland’s outhalf, Johnny Sexton, which has echoes of the last time these two teams met in a World Cup on French soil. In 2007 the French media sabotaged Ronan O’Gara with claims that he had amassed huge gambling debts and his wife was on the verge of leaving him. The unfounded & underhanded tactics seemed to have the desired effect, with O’Gara’s performance mimicking that of Ireland in a disastrous campaign.

In a sport where players are usually tight lipped when it comes to the media and slow to give oppositions any motivating soundbites, it was interesting to hear the French players stir the pot ahead of the huge Cardiff clash. Sexton’s former Racing Metro 92 teammate Eddy Ben Arous, accused Sexton of taking ages “to get rid of the ball”, and so he will be trying to “hunt him down.” Meanwhile, Full-back Brice Dulin had his own pop, questing the Irish outhalf’s mentality. Sexton’s former coach at Racing Metro also put the boot in, describing Sexton’s time at Metro as a failure. Finally, the French media, keen to play their part, declared Johnny Sexton to be the Zlatan Ibrahimovic of Rugby.

To bring you up to speed, Ibrahimovic is a Swedish footballer currently at Paris Saint Germain. He is renowned as a bit of an egocentric and definitely a marmite type character. He is also the executor extraordinaire of that 40m bicycle kick goal against England a few years ago. When recently asked what he had bought his wife for her birthday, he quipped “Nothing! She already has Zlatan”

While Sexton is not as well known for such self praise, he is a hard working and very demanding perfectionist who has clearly left an impression on some of his French ex colleagues.

In response to these barbs, Ireland have eschewed to opportunity to ruffle any French feathers, instead going down the more trodden path of platitudes and niceties. Ian Madigan was full of praise for French #10 Freddie Michalak telling Planet Rugby “he’s a magician.. and the heartbeat of the French side.” Tell that to the fans who went to see France vs Italy in 2014!

The game this Sunday in Cardiff however, will be decided on the pitch. The so called “carrot” being a Quarter Final with Argentina, while the “stick” will be an encounter with the mighty All Blacks. If France are pitted against the All Blacks, they will still fancy their chances. New Zealand have exited the RWC twice at the hands of the French since the dawning of the professional era in 1995.

For Ireland, an early knockout match up with the world champs would be nothing short of a disaster, having never beaten the side, even when they played the game of their lives. Memories of Lansdowne Road in 2013, and an 82nd minute winner conversion from Aaron Cruden still haunt many Irish fans & players.

The group winner meanwhile will face Argentina. A passionate and talented side, and one that has caused major problems for Ireland & France in the past. Particularly France, who will still have nightmares from their opening night loss to the Puma’s at their home world Cup.

Sunday cannot come soon enough. A packed Millennium Stadium will enjoy a very physical and potentially low scoring game between two bitter rivals. But don’t let a low scoring game be mistaken for boring. A few verbal bouts in the media is just the beginning. This is going to be a hugely entertaining game and an opportunity for French players to “catch up” with an old colleague.

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