Ireland fly half Johnny Sexton is expected to return to action this week, despite currently serving a three match ban for verbal misconduct against match officials at the 2023 Heineken Champions Cup Final.
Ireland continue their preparations for the 2023 Rugby World Cup, with a warm weather training camp in Portugal’s Algarve. Part of the camp includes a behind-closed-doors training match against Portugal, as ‘Os Lobos’ prepare to embark on only their second ever Rugby World Cup campaign.
This exhibition friendly is expected to feature Sexton, as it is not officially sanctioned as a recognised fixture. The Times and Wales Online report how the 38-year-old is likely to make an appearance, as Andy Farrell looks to identify his squad for the trip to France.
Sexton’s last competitive match was in Ireland’s Grand Slam winning victory over England, back at the end of the 2023 Six Nations. Ireland’s talisman re-aggravated a groin injury during that match, which ruled him out of action for the rest of Leinster’s 2022/23 season.
Without Sexton, the Dubliners failed to get their hands on the United Rugby Championship after a semi final defeat to Munster, and also finished runners-up in the aforementioned Champions Cup Final to La Rochelle. Sexton’s ban ruled him out of Saturday’s 33-17 win over Italy, and sees him miss out on upcoming clashes against England and Samoa.
This upcoming training match against Portugal looks to be Sexton’s one and only chance to experience full ‘match action’, before Ireland kick-off their 2023 Rugby World Cup campaign against Romania on September 9th.
Will Greenwood picks his five nailed on starters for England at the Rugby World Cup
In his column for The Telegraph, legendary centre Will Greenwood has done a player-by-player run down of England’s 2023 World Cup squad.
Head coach Steve Borthwick confirmed his final 33-man squad for the tournament this morning with a number of major stars missing out on the squad.
In the following article, we examine the five players specifically mentioned by Greenwood during his review of the squad.
#1. Owen Farrell
Greenwood wrote: “Just a rockstar; a competitor, a winner, a champion, a goal-kicker under pressure. It seems like he has to keep proving himself, which surprises me. But I think he has to play 10.”
