Ireland star Johnny Sexton insists having one final chance to grow to be a Grand Slam-winning captain is optimistic pressure as he edges nearer to his possible Guinness Six Nations swansong.
Andy Farrell’s in-form facet are in pole place for the title and on track for a match clear sweep going into crunch clashes with Scotland and England.
Ireland have clinched simply three Grand Slams in the historical past of the championship, with Sexton half of the squad which final achieved the feat, in 2018.
The veteran fly-half is anticipated to retire following this 12 months’s World Cup however doesn’t really feel unduly burdened by present circumstances as he makes an attempt to log out a stellar Six Nations profession in model.
“Pressure is pressure,” he stated forward of Sunday’s go to to Murrayfield. “It’s been there for the last 10, 15 years in various forms. This is a good pressure.
“You’ve one shot, you want to do well.
“But at the same time it’s not about me, it’s about the team and building and trying to do something that we set out to do. That’s ultimately what it’s about.”
Ireland high the championship standings on the again of bonus-point wins over Wales, France and Italy.
Sexton, who made his Six Nations debut in 2010 and has gained the title 3 times, is ready to return to motion at Murrayfield after sitting out the round-three win in Rome attributable to a groin problem sustained in opposition to Les Bleus.
The 37-year-old has urged his team-mates to “cherish” a uncommon alternative for Grand Slam glory.
“It’s about embracing it, it’s about realising that it’s not always like this,” he stated.
“Going back a couple of years, we’d lost our first two games and we were fighting for a bit of respect, a bit of pride, whatever.
“So it’s not always like this. You’ve got to cherish it. Where else would you rather be? Would you rather be fourth and playing for nothing?
“It’s where we want to be. You can’t get away from that so it’s just about driving home process, driving home performance, driving home the things that matter.”
Sexton watched from the stands at Stadio Olimpico attributable to his newest health setback, having begun the competitors with a lack of recreation time after present process cheekbone surgical procedure at the begin of the 12 months.
The Leinster man admits his enforced four-week break between video games is just not ultimate however is assured it won’t be a main problem.
“You’d rather be playing, for sure,” he stated.
“I think what you learn is, you have to prepare well, you have to train well, you have to try and put yourself into game situations to taking training seriously, even your kicking practice and stuff like that. Making sure you’ve got a real focus to it.
“I suppose the thing that you don’t get to replicate is the intensity but you try and train hard and make sure you’re as well prepared.
“But nothing ever comes close to Test match rugby. But look, I’ll be ready come Sunday. Like you said, I’ve had longer breaks.
“Luckily I’ve had a couple of games under my belt since the face injury, so yeah, it’s not ideal, but it is what it is.”
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