“Personally? Wow, there’s a lot that we learned from that 2019 World Cup,' said the Ireland skipper
Mixed with the nerves and excitement of his return is also some scar tissue for Johnny Sexton to deal with as he gears up for the start of his fourth World Cup in Bordeaux tomorrow afternoon.
"We were bullish about it but it’s always when you come off the back of bad results that you pick everything apart. Maybe we picked it apart too much."Even if you go back to that New Zealand game – the opportunities that we had that we didn’t take that resulted in them scoring tries. Going for the corner, missing touch – great bit of play by them.
The Dubliner will lead Ireland into the World Cup - his fourth - in 48 hours time and, when asked about his level of sharpness for the challenge ahead, replied: "We'll see on Saturday - hopefully I can go out and play well and have a good performance. I expect that of myself."Once I got over the injury came the three games off and once I knew I was there, I've just been focused on this game for the last couple of months.
"Getting back fit from the injury was the first challenge and then once i got back from that then being able to reintegrate with the team and getting back to speed. “Yeah, it’s something that we did prepare on the off chance we did get a game like this, so we are prepared for it," Sexton said. "It's very much like a soccer World Cup atmosphere, the ones I've been involved in to date, and we're looking forward to that.
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Ireland v Romania: Johnny Sexton captains strong side for Rugby World Cup openerKeith Earls starts on the wing as Rob Herring starts as hooker
Read more »
'I have always been confident with Johnny' - O'Driscoll backs Sexton for World Cup returnThe Ireland captain has been unavailable due to a ban.
Read more »
Ireland vs. Romania: Andy Farrell goes with several big guns for World Cup openerWe will have all that Ireland team news, big call debates and reaction to it, as well as the other World Cup warm-up talking points, in our live feed
Read more »
Hugo Keen that Ireland deliver a World Cup statement of intent in BordeauxIreland want to hit the ground running after a slow build-up through the warm-ups, says established full-back Keenan
Read more »
Gerry Thornley: Ireland likely to name strong selection for Rugby World Cup opener against RomaniaThe need to give Johnny Sexton and Rónan Kelleher game time forces Andy Farrell’s hand for Bordeaux game
Read more »