Johnny Sexton: Ireland captain gearing up for Scotland’s best team of the Six Nations era | Rugby Union News

Johnny Sexton says he is ‘able to go’ for Eire’s Six Nations match with Scotland after lacking out on victory over Italy with a groin grievance; “In all probability because the begin of the Six Nations they’ve been the very best Scottish crew.”

Eire captain Johnny Sexton feels he’s set to face Scotland’s finest facet of the Six Nations period after declaring himself match for the Murrayfield showdown on Sunday.

Eire head to Edinburgh with Grand Slam aspirations nonetheless intact due to bonus factors wins over Wales, France and Italy.

The world’s top-ranked nation have dominated video games towards Scotland for the previous decade, successful 11 of the final 12, however Gregor Townsend’s facet have been a a lot harder proposition on this yr’s match – beating England and Wales earlier than the loss in France – and are bidding for a primary Triple Crown because the 1990 5 Nations to remain within the title hunt.

Fly-half Sexton, who missed third-round victory in Rome with a groin drawback suffered towards France, believes Eire are ‘privileged’ to struggle for a clear sweep and are getting ready for the largest take a look at of the championship up to now.

“We do not see ourselves as favourites, we do not even speak about it,” he stated. “We expect will probably be an extremely robust recreation.

“They’re in all probability the very best Scottish crew – perhaps not ever as a result of there are Scottish groups who’ve received championships and all that – however positively the very best Scottish crew we’ve performed towards.

“In all probability because the begin of the Six Nations they have been Scotland’s finest crew. It’ll be a very robust recreation and possibly our hardest within the Championship up to now.”

Eire picked up a bonus level in Rome in Sexton’s absence

Eire put apart the absence of a number of star males on the Stadio Olimpico, together with its influential skipper, to stay the chief of the competitors.

Sexton, who confirmed he was “able to go” on the weekend, had already received a Grand Slam in 2018 – the third Six Nations triumph of his glittering profession.

The 37-year-old believes Scotland’s hopes of ending a 33-year Triple Crown drought provides an additional edge to a tough journey.

“Each crew comes into this competitors eager to win a Grand Slam, eager to win a championship and that is why it is so necessary to get off to a superb begin as a result of it retains every little thing alive,” he stated.

“We all the time have them available so clearly we speak about them and ensure we take care of the strain that comes with that, but it surely’s a first-rate place to go from there.”

Talking of Scotland’s aspirations for the Triple Crown, he continued: “It is one thing we’ll have to acknowledge as a result of it may create a really particular environment there I am positive – it is all the time a really particular environment despite the fact that there was nothing on the road.

“However it’s an enormous recreation now with them for a triple crown and nonetheless within the Championship and us clearly within the Championship and clearly eager to attempt to win a triple crown ourselves.

“It is an enormous recreation, so it is nice to be part of it.”

Sexton scored 550 factors within the Six Nations

Sexton might additionally obtain a private milestone on Sunday as he closes in on changing into the Six Nations’ all-time main scorer.

The Leinster man, who has simply seven Championship factors wanting former worldwide team-mate Ronan O’Gara’s report tally of 557, insists collective glory outweighs particular person achievements.

“It is one thing individuals inform you otherwise you see on social media,” he stated. “Irish Rugby scored me in one thing at the moment which I wasn’t too pleased about!

“It is there, however I do not assume it may add strain on me or something like that. It is not one thing I’ve ever got down to do.

“I would slightly not rating one other level and win a championship, win a Grand Slam than get the factors report. I do not thoughts that a lot. If it comes, incredible, but it surely’s not one thing that forestalls me from sleeping.

“If the precise resolution is to enter the nook and go factors, I’ll.

“However if you happen to do, that is an unimaginable mark to make. Ronan clearly had an unimaginable profession and even simply being in that very same dialog is sufficient for me.”