France vs Ireland preview: Johnny Sexton plays down fitness fears before defining test

Heavy knock: Sexton says he is feeling no ill effects from a battering against Wales
(David Rogers/Getty Images)
Chris Jones12 February 2016

Johnny Sexton says he is feeling no ill effects from another heavy knock against Wales last weekend.

The fly-half is key to Ireland’s bid for a third successive Six Nations title but has been troubled by a series of concussions that have cast doubt over his career.

The British and Irish Lions star is admant there are no lingering problems heading into tomorrow’s clash in Paris against a French side that have made six changes from last weekend’s narrow victory against Italy.

He dismissed worries about his health by saying: “I will be fine and I probably feel the way front-rowers feel every day.”

Ireland have not been defeated by France since 2011 but Sexton is taking nothing for granted. He added: “It’s [Paris] one of the toughest places to go in international rugby.

“Just because we have had a little bit of a purple patch against them does not mean anything now.”

The return of Sean O’Brien is crucial for Ireland, who have to win the forward battle if they are to come out on top tomorrow, and the Lions flanker said: “If you have any aspirations to win this tournament, you have to win in France.

“That’s the way I’m thinking about it, anyway, and I’m sure most of the lads are in exactly the same mindset. When you lose over there you are up against it for the rest of the tournament [but] winning in France is momentum.”

French coach Guy Noves has made changes to his pack, with Jefferson Poirot in for Eddy Ben Arous at loose-head prop, while Yacouba Camara replaces the injured Louis Picamoles at No8.

Noves said: “It’s something we’ve thought through. Jefferson was good in the scrum against Italy which was what we expected.

“I am not going to say he’s better than the others because we all saw that we could have lost to Italy.”

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