Advertisement
Inpho/Billy Stickland
Teed Up

'At the Captain's Run I just started slotting them': Nacewa happy to take kicking pressure off Sexton

The Aucklander kicked four from four in Montpellier today with Sexton taking a back seat.

Sean Farrell reports from Altrad Stadium

COMING IN THE 25th minute, it was conceivable that Jonathan Sexton was not taking Leinster’s first kickable penalty because of a knock in the first quarter of the game.

However, post-match Isa Nacewa said that he went into the Champions Cup clash with Montpellier as the primary goal-kicker.

Both captain and head coach Leo Cullen were reluctant to put the decision down to any lingering trouble with Sexton’s hamstring.

“Look, he’s coming into his first European game; him and Seanie O’Brien,” Nacewa said as he prepared to board the team bus.

“It’s a team effort and I kicked well in the Captain’s Run so I just got the charge.

“Look, I was kicking last week (against Castres) and I came down here yesterday at the Captain’s Run and just started slotting them, kicking them well.

“So, even before kick-off I knew I was going to take the kicks. It was happy days and it went well today.”

The Aucklander completed the game with all 16 of Leinster’s points, a 100% rate of kicking success from his four attempts. For long stretches though, it seemed like his penalties would be mere consolation rather than the path to any tangible result for his side. Yet all that changed when he latched on to a brilliant Jamison Gibson-Park pass in the dying minutes and scampered round the large in-goal area to set up an easier conversion to grab a losing bonus point.

“This competition is so hard and every single point counts, especially in these early two rounds,” added the skipper.

“It’s a great sign by the squad and moreso the bench; the impact those guys had there to come back there at the end and come away from there with the point.”

The42 is on Snapchat! Tap the button below on your phone to add!

Leinster feel the full force of Nadolo in Montpellier defeat

A touch of class from Leinster as they wear Munster red in honour of Anthony Foley

Sexton and O’Brien unscathed (just a bit annoyed) after half-time withdrawal