Although only 23, Leinster fly-half Jonathan Sexton is tipped to become a genuine challenger to Ronan O’Gara’s throne in the not too distant future. He spoke to www.rucked.com
How’s it going Jonathan?
Good thanks, yeah.
Life on the pitch okay?
It’s going good at the moment, we didn’t do very well in the Heineken Cup of late (they lost 29-10 to Edinburgh) but the Celtic League’s going well.
You’ve managed to get a decent run in the first team, what was your initial target for the season?
Well, with Felipe [Contepomi] at the World Cup I just wanted to play outside half. I started a few games and things are getting there now…
Are you settled into the senior squad now?
It’s still only my second full-time year as a pro, but I suppose I’m settling down. My contract’s up at the end of the season but I’m hoping to sign an extension soon.
Was a career as a rugby player always on the cards?
Yeah I think so. I played for Leinster schools for two seasons then went straight into under-21s and the academy, so even from the age of 15 or 16 the goal was to play for Leinster. They’re my home province after all.
You made your debut in 2006, how was that?
It was good, it was a bit of a funny game though because Felipe was supposed to be playing fly-half but he’d had a baby just hours before kick-off so I wasn’t sure if I’d be starting or not. As it turned out, he did and I ended up coming on late in the game by which time we were 50-10 up or something. I think my first proper game was really against Munster the season after. Thomond was a great place to make my debut, especially as all my family are from Munster which added an extra bit of edge. I’ve lived all my life in Leinster though so I’m a Leinster boy.
Any split loyalties when you play?
I don’t know, all my uncles and dad are mad Munster fans and follow them everywhere but if I;m playing my dad will always support me.
You’re playing with an awesome backline at Leinster…
It’s a great opportunity when I do get to play because they all really good players, it really gives me a chance to make an impression. I mean if I can’t play well with those guys then I’m not going to make it. This year the forwards have been impressive too. We’ve got a lot of new guys and Leo Cullen and Shane Jennings have made a huge difference on and off the pitch since they came back. The pack has been outstanding…
What’s it been like playing alongside guys you used to look up to?
Well, at the time when I went to watch, Leinster used a few different outside halves so there wasn’t any particular person to look up to. But generally, there were all the backs – the likes of Brian O’Driscoll, Girvan Dempsey, Gordon D’Arcy… And then when he arrived, there was Felipe…
How do you get on with Felipe?
We get on well, obviously I was quite young when he came up so he would often give me little bits of advice. When I play alongside him he gives me a lot of advice, often not asked for! He tends to shout it at me! But he does teach me an awful lot, I can’t say enough about him, he helps all the young guys and I stay back after training kicking with him most days.
Being an Irish and all, perhaps at last Ronan O’Gara can have some competition. Do you think he needs some?
Yeah, there was only two outside halves at the World Cup – him and Paddy Wallace. It’s not something I’ve focused on though, it’s a long-term goal, I’m concentrating on playing for Leinster every week and playing well every week, hopefully then the rest of the stuff will come. I do think he needs more competition though, he doesn’t have any at moment and he didn’t have any at World Cup. Not that it effects him, he sets his own standards and he plays to that level each week. Generally Irish rugby needs more competition otherwise we could be in a bit of trouble.
Do you think the World Cup had a big impact on the Irish players?
I wasn’t at World Cup so I don’t know how it effected them, but to be honest I don’t see any difference in the Leinster players. They’re the same people, they still work hard and they’ve still got the enthusiasm. It was a set back obviously, but I don’t think it’s going to effect Ireland, although we’ll find out at the Six Nations for sure…
What’s O’Driscoll like?
He gets on with everyone in the squad, he’s got the respect of everyone and he’s done everything you can – he’s captained the Lions which says it all. He leads by example more than talking, he doesn’t say a lot – he just talks when things need to be said.
What’s the half-time report on Leinster?
To be honest, if we hadn’t lost to Edinburgh we’d be in the best position. In a good place for the Heineken Cup and top of the Magners League, which is where we are. We had a bit of a blip recently but we’re determined to prove it was just that and not let it happen again. On the day against Edinburgh, we just didn’t play well and the few bounces didn’t go our way and we made a few errors.
How do you find the Magners League?
I enjoy it, we get 18,000 to every game at home and I think it’s a good league. If you look at the European Cup and how well Irish teams have done in it, then it obviously can’t be as bad a standard of rugby as some people say. There’s only two trophies to play for so the Magners League is important, we’ve come so close to winning it two years in a row – and lost it on the final day of the season both times – and so we’ve put a huge emphasis on winning it. Michael Cheika has shown that in his squad selection by picking the strongest side nearly every time. It’s something he takes seriously…
Heineken Cup: not so good…
We just need to get the maximum points form both games and see what happens. It’s mathematically possible for us to qualify, but it would take a bit of a miracle. If we get full points and that’s good enough, then brilliant. If we don’t qualify, then we know where we went wrong.
What’s your target for the remainder of the season?
You reassess all the time. Now I’ve started playing a few more games, to get into the Six Nations’ squad would be a huge bonus and something I wouldn’t have foreseen at the start of the season. If I play well in the next few games, there’s a chance I could make the training squad. If that happens then I’ll take it from there…