South Africa Vs Ireland: Could Ireland conquest the RWC 2023 without Johnny Sexton
It was declared by Johnny Sexton’s lifelong club, that the fly-half is likely to miss the rest of the United Rugby Competition season. It looks like Sexton has played his last game for Leinster, as the 37-year-old plans for leaving following the France Rugby World Cup 2023. Sexton re-aggravated a mole injury in the final game of the 2023 Guinness Six Nations, on the way to leading Ireland to a Grand Slam victory over England.
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Picking up the damage in Ireland’s clash of the giants win over France in round two, Sexton was side-lined for the following trip to Rome. He examined on from the Stadio Olympico, as Ross Byrne scored the victory over Italy, and Sexton’s injury was played down to be a rest week for the captain. Sexton received an all but flawless send-off in his final Six Nations game, as he has beaten Ronan O’Gara’s points-scoring best in the competition.
Yet was forced off the ground earlier than he’d expected. Byrne swapped Sexton after 73 minutes, with the Ireland RWC captain reaping the applauses from the crowd, as he departed the Aviva. Caught up in the joint St Patrick’s Day and Grand Slam festivities, Ireland fans were far too delighted to worry about Sexton’s marginally earlier than deliberate withdrawal.
However, with the sand settled on the Six Nations, all Irish eyes now turn to the chance of winning their first-ever Rugby World Cup this Autumn. Sexton’s World Cup standing is as yet unofficial, but the question marks have risen around whether he will be fully right for the entire contest. After the upsetting news was broken by Leinster, it’s time to consider whether Ireland could go the whole way without Sexton in the group. For more know about Ireland Rugby World Cup Tickets.
Who does Ireland play in Rugby World Cup?
Ireland plays Romania in their opening game of the RWC 2023. Their drive kicks off on the 9th of September, which leaves Sexton with little over five months to get game fit for the opener. However, this can be stared as the best-case scenario for Sexton, and Andy Farrell may even prefer to rest his talisman for the initial two rounds. As world rugby’s number one placed nation, Ireland views the existing threat of Romania as a physical battle.
But should result in an upfront Irish victory. This is then trailed up by Tonga, who are again the hard-hitting underdogs that are looking to trouble the odds on the outstanding stage. Ireland should be fine without Sexton for these two games, as Andy Farrell’s side is by no means a one-man team. Ireland has the world’s best in their place candidates from one to 15.
A fully fit Ireland starting XV is a terrifying sight for any opponent, yet all guns will have to be blazing for Ireland’s third group stage game. On Saturday 23rd, Ireland takes on South Africa, in what will be a confirmed Parisian ‘Classique’. Man to man, Ireland and South Africa match up pretty closely. A ‘dream XV’ of Irish and South African players would see an even divided of Emerald Green and Dark Green & Gold shirts.
Ireland against South Africa at France Rugby World Cup 2023
Siya Kolesi or Josh van der Flier? Cheslin Kolbe or James Lowe? Lukanyo Am or Bundee Aki? Eben Etzebeth or Tadhg Beirne? The rivalry between the two teams at full fitness is simply massive. On his day, Johnny Sexton pips Handre Pollard, just. The two masterful fly-halves can order the tempo of play to a single second, with the existence or lack of Sexton either making or breaking this game for Ireland.
This in no way takes away from the talent of Ross Byrne, but on the RWC stage against the pinnacle of South African conflict, Byrne’s 19 Ireland caps don’t stack up to the ruling world champions. Despite how good Pollard is presently playing for Leicester; a fully fit Sexton hides him in his current ‘evergreen’ form. What Sexton may lack actually against Pollard, he makes up for in knowledge and game supervision.
His guidance qualities are supreme in a green jersey, and he has the logical wherewithal to control the game and make well-thought-out choices in crucial moments. Sexton can keep a cool head when slotting vital drawbacks and is Ireland’s finest option to diffuse the fabled bomb squad of South African substitutes when legs start to tire. If Sexton is not on the pitch at the Stade de France, then advantage sways towards the Springboks for matchday three. For more know about South Africa Rugby World Cup Tickets.
Ireland takes on Scotland at RWC 2023
Then matchday four comes around, and it is all to play for. Ireland takes on Scotland's Rugby World Cup side, with Gregor Townsends’ side apparently in the same boat as Ireland without Sexton. Two streak wins over Romania and Tonga have exhausted the squad enough to fall to South Africa, which sees this vital competition as the decider to get out of Pool B. In a similar fettle, XV vs XV, there is little to pick between Ireland and Scotland.
A Gaelic XV of Tartan and Green would make for a super-side talented of being world champions, but Ireland takes the lead in the ‘Head to Head’. Their fresh meeting in the Guinness Six Nations saw Ireland grind out a 7-22 away win in Edinburgh, as the two teams cancelled each other out in attack and defence. Without Sexton, Ireland has the manpower to stun Scotland physically and put them on the back foot for Byrne to build a points count.
After a back-and-forth tug of war, the advantage favours the Ireland rugby team, who would likely progress out of the Pool and into the knockout phases. Scotland will leave it all on the line, in what could be Stuart Hogg’s final game of professional rugby, with the full-back declaring his shock departure plans after the France Rugby World Cup 2023. Now onto the knockout stages, with Ireland on the critical end of a lop-sided world cup draw.
The top 5 RWC teams are in Pool A & B
The top five highest-graded world rugby nations are opposing in either Pool A or Pool B, with Ireland lining up quarter-final and semi-final run-ins with France, New Zealand or even a get-together with South Africa. Ireland has a cruel road to the Rugby World Cup Final and requires the control of Sexton in their camp. It is tough to say if Sexton becomes the be-all and end-all for Irish world cup faiths.
Andy Farrell has favoured Byrne as Sexton’s fresh understudy and will have a power struggle on his hands come the end of the RWC 2023. England Head Coach Steve Borthwick knows all too well about the problems that come with doubt in the 10 jerseys, with Andy Farrell’s son at the very heart of the debate. Confusion and off-field selection issues can pull a team’s focus astray from the task at hand, and for Ireland that is winning the world cup.
Dubliner can make his return for a fairy-tale good-bye
If Andy Farrell is positive about Byrne being his stand-in fly half, then the time is now to start training to build the team around the Leinsterman, if Sexton slips the France Rugby World Cup. There is time for Farrell to orchestrate a re-kindled aggressive line, with Byrne routing the ship if worst comes to worst with Sexton. Yet Farrell needs to choose his man and stick with it if the news breaks on Sexton’s early and unlucky departure from rugby.
Last-minute variations and dropping players back to their clubs can only confuse matters when a team is moving in a new direction so close to a most important competition. It is unlikely to know anytime soon, if Sexton will take part in the RWC, or if the groin injury is a career-ender. Here’s hoping that the Dubliner can make his comeback for a fairy-tale goodbye, and lead his side to world cup wonder for the first time in their history.
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