Sexton in for game of the year
What a decision!
How many of us would have anticipated that Declan "Cool Hand Luke" Kidney would have axed Ronan O'Gara in favour of Jonny Sexton for the most eagerly anticipated of all the November fixtures, as Ireland take on World Champions South Africa at Croke Park?
Despite Sexton's flawless, nerveless display against Fiji on his international debut, all the smart money was on Ireland's most capped fly-half and record points scorer returning to the starting 15, with Sexton looking likely to come in at the opening of the 2010 Six Nations campaign against Italy in Dublin in February.
To be fair, Kidney admitted, following Sexton's impressive performance against the Fijians, that it was going to be close call.
But O'Gara has been demoted for the first time since he and David Humphreys were competing for the number 10 shirt several years ago.
Sexton, at 24, three years older than O'Gara when the Munsterman made his debut against Scotland in 2000, impressed me right from kick-off at the RDS.
He caught the Fijian starting kick and, rather than just boot the ball back down the park, had a quick look and set off at considerable pace, taking the Fijian defence totally by surprise. Wow!
Hello, I'm Jim Neilly and I have been covering Ulster and Irish rugby for the ´óÏó´«Ã½ for 30 years. I also cover boxing for ´óÏó´«Ã½ Television.
