Ireland still have plenty to play for in the remaining season and a bit of Joe Schmidt's current contract as head coach, according to Johnny Sexton.
And it comes as little surprise that the Ireland outhalf is prominent among those who fervently hope Schmidt remains in charge for the rest of this four-year World Cup cycle.
"All we know is that he's here for next year," said Sexton yesterday. "We had big goals this year. We were trying to go three in a row. We've still got big goals, trying to create history. We're got three chances to do that in South Africa and two against New Zealand. Then, we have another crack at the Six Nations next year.
“There is still plenty of rugby to be played with Joe in charge. I hope he’s here for at least the next World Cup. That’s what everyone in the squad would hope. We feel that we’re building something. Fingers crossed, he will be here. There are circumstances that he probably has to consider. I wouldn’t like to speak for him. I’m sure he’ll answer it himself.”
Fruitful
Like most outhalf/coach partnerships, Sexton has always had a close relationship with Schmidt, albeit it has come with a fair amount of ribbing from team-mates.
But over the last six seasons it has also been an incredibly fruitful relationship-cum- friendship.
"I've been lucky enough to be playing number 10 for the majority of those games that he's been the coach of Leinster and Ireland. Look at his record: three years with Leinster – six finals, four trophies. Three seasons with Ireland and two trophies.
Pretty special
“We obviously got decimated [by injuries] during the World Cup. I think we could have built something pretty special there. To lose a third of your team in the space of a week was tough. His record speaks for itself. Hopefully, we can keep him for longer than he has signed up for.
“I have a good relationship with him but no more that the other guys who have worked with him,” said Sexton, who admitted the Leinster players had that advantage in the Ireland set-up but that players from the other provinces now enjoy the same, before he adds with smile: “He has a pretty good relationship with all the backs really, once you do what he tells you to do.”
From the outside, it appears that Sexton has had to endure a tough campaign, with comments about his health and form, coupled with a torrent of late blows on the pitch to compound an anti-climactic tilt at a third title in a row. His class has shone through though.
“As a 10, you go through highs and lows. To be honest, I would rather be playing a little bit worse and winning. At the end of the day, when you’re playing number 10 you judge yourself on results, and we haven’t got them. And when you are playing 10 , you blame yourself as much as you look at the other guys around you.”
Late hits
As for the late hits, Sexton said: “The only frustrating thing from my point of view is that nothing has been done [in terms of sanction]. Look, it’s part of the game. It’s what you expect as a number 10.”
Unlike the last two seasons, Ireland will not have a title to play for on Super Saturday, but tomorrow’s result will go some way toward defining their campaign.
“If we can win, it puts a totally different look on the championship,” said Sexton. “We’ve obviously gone two [wins] and a half rather than one and a half. It will get us into the top half of the table and make it look very respectable. And then we can go and look at the France and England games, the areas we could have done better to beat them, especially France.
“It is difficult not to be playing for something this weekend, but then again every time you play for Ireland it is a very proud day for everyone involved, whether it is yourself, your family or the team-mates around you. We are still very driven to do everyone proud.
“We don’t want to finish third, we want to finish first. But third is at least better than fifth. That’s the way we are looking at it.
“We are very driven towards getting that result and winning at home as well. We have a very proud record at home and we want to maintain that.”
