Johnny Sexton damage: Eire captain expects to make Six Nations opener

Ex-Eire hooker Bernard Jackman says Johnny Sexton is hopeful of being match for the beginning of the Six Nations.

The Eire captain required a “process” on a cheekbone damage sustained in Leinster’s United Rugby Championship win over Connacht.

“Sexton is sort of assured he’s going to be again for the primary spherical,” Jackman mentioned after chatting with the 37-year-old Eire fly-half.

Jackman says he spoke to Sexton 24 hours after his operation at The RDS, the place the Irish captain accepted his Honorary Life Membership award.

“He did not must get wired – it was a less complicated process than all of us feared,” added Jackman.

“He’s due again in 4 weeks so must be again for the primary recreation towards Wales which will probably be an enormous increase for Eire – he’s delighted.”

The match in Cardiff will herald the return of Warren Gatland as Wales coach after he was named because the substitute for Wayne Pivac.

“Wales away in spherical one with [Warren] Gatland coming again in has now turn out to be a harmful fixture. Extra harmful than earlier than Gatland got here in as Wales weren’t overly constant. So there will probably be an enormous elevate in Wales’ efficiency.”

“If Eire had been to lose that first recreation then it could throw the Grand Slam out of the image and it is vitally onerous to realize momentum.

“If he [Sexton] is match he performs. He’s all the time somebody who has been in a position to do rather well after a break. There are specific gamers you wish to see them have a recreation earlier than they play an enormous recreation.

“However Johnny has proven whether or not it’s two weeks or 4 weeks or extra he is ready to hit the correct notes and since he’s a key man for Eire it is crucial he begins.

“Then see how the event goes to present another person an opportunity. I feel Eire wish to attempt to win a Six Nations and our greatest likelihood of profitable a Six Nations is that if Sexton performs.”

Jackman, who received 9 caps for Eire, believes Munster’s Joey Carbery remains to be in prime place to be the first-choice cowl for the Leinster fly-half, regardless of his damage in November which noticed him miss the ultimate autumn Collection win over Australia.

Carbery’s provincial team-mate Jack Crowley began the sport and impressed earlier than Ross Byrne changed him to kick the profitable purpose within the 13-10 victory.

He added: “I nonetheless assume Joey [Carbery] is the primary back-up. The attention-grabbing factor will probably be Crowley over Byrne. Byrne got here out of the wilderness towards Australia however confirmed his mentality and large recreation temperament.

“Since then Crowley has been getting a variety of recreation time however in a mix of 10 and12. Anyone who works with him charges him extremely extremely. I’ve a sense he’s going to presumably be third selection 10 going in the direction of the World Cup.

“Nonetheless over the following month with Johnny [Sexton] being out it provides Ross Byrne an unbelievable likelihood to put down a marker as effectively with large video games in Europe. At Munster you’ll think about Joey could be at 10 and Jack at 12.

“Quite a bit might change over the following month however Crowley is someone who all people who works with him says he has unimaginable skill and temperament to go on and do nice issues.”

Eire’s second Six Nations recreation is towards final season’s Grand Slam winners France on the Aviva Stadium on 11 February, the primary of two residence video games earlier than they welcome England within the ultimate spherical on 18 March.

“A Grand Slam or title could be nice but when we’re to win 4 out of 5 and carry out effectively within the recreation we misplaced I do not assume that will be an enormous blow,” the previous European Cup winner continued.

“I feel England are additionally going to get higher in order that recreation is now robust. France as all the time will probably be extremely onerous to beat however the reality we now have each of them at residence this 12 months improves our probabilities of profitable the trophy.”