SM
Real Madrid vs AC Milan: 16 hrs 4 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data
Six Nations | Group Stage
Mar 20, 2021 at 4.45pm UK
 
Ireland
32-18
England
Earls (29'), Conan (36')
FT
Youngs (64'), May (78')

Johnny Sexton: 'Win over England will help Ireland secure more British and Irish Lions places'

:Headline: Johnny Sexton: 'Win over England will help Ireland secure more British and Irish Lions places':
Lions boss Warren Gatland is finalising plans for the forthcoming series in South Africa.
Sports Mole

Johnny Sexton believes beating England should guarantee Ireland have greater representation on this summer's British and Irish Lions tour than their weekend opponents.

Saturday's Guinness Six Nations clash in Dublin is effectively a dead rubber as a second-placed finish is the best either country can hope for at the end of underwhelming campaigns.

Yet, with Lions boss Warren Gatland still finalising his plans for the forthcoming series in South Africa, there remains added incentive to perform.

British and Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland faces some big selection decisions (David Davies/PA)

Fly-half Sexton toured with the Lions in 2013 and 2017 and expects the final Championship standings to directly correlate with the number of players from each country included in Gatland's multinational squad.

The 35-year-old, who was unwilling to discuss his own prospects, said: "It will be a big game in the decision-making process, we know that.

"Like the Scotland game was, like the Welsh game was – those games against the home nations, the guys you are competing against.

"Wales, if they go and win a Grand Slam, they will have the majority of guys on tour and whoever finishes second will get the next most, that's generally what it's been, historically that has been the case.

“Wales, if they go and win a Grand Slam, they will have the majority of guys on tour and whoever finishes second will get the most next, that's generally what it's been, historically that has been the case.”
- Johnny Sexton on selection for the British and Irish Lions

"It's a big game but, like I said before the last game, if there was no Lions tour this year, all the motivation is the exact same; you are playing for your country, you are playing against England.

"You are incredibly motivated to represent the jersey properly and to represent the people and everyone involved with it.

"Nothing changes that much but, in the back of your mind, it's a big game in that regard (Lions places) as well."

Grand Slam-chasing Wales are already assured of finishing ahead of Ireland, England and Scotland following wins over each of their rivals.

Andy Farrell's resurgent Irish are seeking to record a third successive victory after defeating Italy and the Scots to bounce back from narrow losses against the Welsh and France.

Meanwhile, England travel to Dublin buoyed by a thrilling success over Les Bleus but ruing shock losses in their Calcutta Cup clash with Gregor Townsend's men and to Wayne Pivac's Wales, which prematurely extinguished hopes of a title defence.

Sexton feels Saturday's game could easily have been a Championship decider and, regardless of the outcome, anticipates looking back on the tournament with regret.

"Ultimately, even if we do finish on a high, we will look back on this as one that got away," said the Leinster man.

"I have talked about the Welsh game going down to 14 and the French game, how close that was, we could very easily be going for a Championship this weekend – the same as England.

"There is so little between a lot of the teams in this competition and that's been proven, you look through the tournament and the results that have happened back up what I'm saying.

"There is very little between the teams, very little between going for a Grand Slam and nothing.

"But we're determined to finish on a high."

body check tags ::

amp_article__439532 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2021-03-17 09:14:38:
html db last update - 2021-03-17 09:14:38 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html
Read more!

Click here for more stories about Johnny Sexton

Click here for more stories about England

Share this article now:


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Recommended Next on SM
Jonny May: 'England would be devastated not to beat Ireland'
Harry Houdini: Wilson's late wizardry helps Fulham snatch victory from Brentford
Preview: Liverpool vs. B. Leverkusen - prediction, team news, lineups
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

Preview: Red Star vs. Barcelona - prediction, team news, lineups

1

PR

Hoping for the best: Chelsea star Palmer 'to undergo scan' on knee injury

2

HF

''It's been very tough' - Amorim opens up on taking Man United job

3

'B

Is Haaland injured? Guardiola reveals all ahead of Sporting clash

4

IH

Preview: Brugge vs. Aston Villa - prediction, team news, lineups

5

PB

Mainoo, Maguire return dates: Man United injury, suspension news vs. PAOK

6

MM

Preview: One Day International Series: West Indies vs. England - prediction, team news, series so far

7

PO

Team News: Real Madrid vs. AC Milan injury, suspension list, predicted XIs

8

TN

Team News: Liverpool vs. B. Leverkusen injury, suspension list, predicted XIs

9

TN

Preview: Coventry vs. Derby - prediction, team news, lineups

10

PC


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .