STOPPING JONNY SEXTON will not ensure victory for England against Ireland in Sunday’s Six Nations blockbuster, according to fly-half George Ford.
Ireland fly-half Sexton returned from an enforced 12-week concussion lay-off as the reigning champions overcame France 18-11 last week. Sexton slotted five penalties for the home side in Dublin.
Ireland return to Lansdowne Road to host England in a battle of the two unbeaten teams in the championship on Sunday. And Ford has warned England against paying too much attention to Sexton, with Ireland posing an all-round threat.
“It’s definitely not just a case of stop Sexton and you stop Ireland at all I don’t think,” said Ford. ”I think he’s a brilliant player, you saw that against France. After being out for 12 weeks, to come back and play like that, he drove Ireland to that win.
“He’s just massively influential in that team, everything goes through him. He’s got a brilliant rugby brain; he’s a very smart player.
“The biggest thing is his desire to win and hunger to get the best out of the players on his team, but also his determination to go out and give his best as well.
“But their physicality is unbelievable with the pack they’ve got. The breakdown is always massive against them, and that’s probably what decides the game.
“Rory Best and Sean O’Brien are brilliant over the ball, and brilliant at disrupting other teams’ ball too. So you’ve then got [wingers] Simon Zebo, Tommy Bowe and Rob Kearney at full-back, who are all massively dangerous as well.”
