Six Nations 2023: Irish captain Johnny Sexton says fit for ‘huge’ clash with France in Dublin | Rugby Union News

Johnny Sexton took a blow to the pinnacle in Eire’s 34-10 win over Wales in Cardiff on the weekend and needed to endure a head damage evaluation (HIA) earlier than he may return to play ‘teaching ; Eire tackle France in Dublin on Saturday

Eire captain Johnny Sexton is wanting ahead to going through France for the primary time in three years after declaring himself match for Saturday’s “huge” Guinness Six Nations showdown.

The half-butterfly underwent a head damage evaluation (HIA) and overcame a lifeless leg suffered within the first spherical win over Wales and hopes to keep away from additional late health ‘hiccups’ earlier than a attainable Championship title decider in Dublin.

Reigning Grand Slam champions France are the one main nation but to endure defeat to Andy Farrell’s Eire, with Sexton having pulled out late forward of the earlier two encounters because of damage issues .

Sexton was substituted within the second half of Eire’s 34-10 win over Wales of their Six Nations opener

The 37-year-old’s final outing towards the Blues was a irritating 35-27 defeat in Paris on the finish of the prolonged 2020 match when he made headlines for his offended response to being substituted.

“I used to be saying this morning, the final two Wednesdays earlier than France within the final two video games that I ended up withdrawing, so going by way of right now is nice,” Sexton stated. “I can stay up for the sport, hopefully there will not be any extra hiccups.

“Clearly the confusion across the HIA and stuff like that, there’s nothing I can management about it, however I will be good to go for 80 [minutes] this week if wanted. It seems like an enormous recreation. There is no level in saying the rest.

“You possibly can’t simply come right here and say ‘it is simply one other recreation’ as a result of it is not, it is the one we have been ready for a very long time and I’ve learn that they need this take a look at – come to the Aviva and attempt to overthrow us. It is an enormous recreation.

Eire needed to accept the comfort of a triple crown final 12 months after a 30-24 defeat on the Stade de France, which Sexton watched from the stands because of a hamstring downside.

In 2021, the veteran failed to satisfy return-to-play protocols forward of a slender 15-13 loss in Dublin to the Blues, after being angered by ‘very inappropriate’ feedback from a French physician about his case of concussion.

Sexton has missed the final two Six Nations conferences between Eire and France

“These are at all times massive weeks, typically for me one thing is out of the atypical within the French week and I anticipate one thing later within the week,” he stated. “It is at all times an ideal recreation; I grew up in a time when Eire had been shedding closely to France after which form of seeing the primary groups beat them after which being a part of groups beating them has been wonderful.

“However you continue to have these recollections of a younger Frenchman who got here to demolish Eire. You most likely naturally really feel the underdog at my age, in contrast to younger boys. It is a bizarre combine within the group.”

Scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park and prop Tadhg Furlong had been dominated out for Eire, with each additionally lacking in Eire’s 34-10 win over Wales on Saturday. Prop Cian Healy, who retired late from the Irish bench towards Wales with a hamstring damage, additionally stays absent.