Johnny Sexton responds to 'ridiculous' Warren Gatland claim
Rugby NewsWednesday, 01 September 2021 at 13:39
Johnny Sexton says he will never get over being left out of the Lions but is determined to bounce back this year for Leinster and Ireland.
The Irishman was overlooked by Warren Gatland due to fitness issues despite Sexton flagging his fitness and availability to be on standby prior to the tour.
“I’ve had lots of setbacks in my career and now it’s up to me to bounce back this season," said Sexton.
"Not that I’m over it. I don’t think I’ll ever get over it but I’ve come to terms with it. I accepted it a long time ago that it wasn’t going to be,
“It’s a long time ago now since I wasn’t picked, the emotions have obviously changed a little bit.
"When you don’t get picked it’s a massive disappointment. But, look, they went a certain way and I wasn’t a part of their plans. It was tough but that’s life. I’ve just got to try and bounce back now.”
Alternative Lions squad: The 37 players who missed out
We pick a squad out of those players unlucky to miss out…
BACK-THREE: (7)
- Jonny May (England)
- Jack Nowell (England)
- Jacob Stockdale (Ireland)
- Hugo Keenan (Ireland)
- Darcy Graham (Scotland)
- Max Malins (England)
- Leigh Halfpenny (Wales)
CENTRES: (4)
- Manu Tuilagi (England)
- Henry Slade (England)
- Cameron Redpath (Scotland)
- Garry Ringrose (Ireland
FLY-HALVES: (2)
- Johnny Sexton (Ireland)
- George Ford (England)
SCRUM-HALVES: (3)
- Danny Care (England)
- Tomos Williams (Wales)
- John Cooney (Ireland)
PROPS: (9)
- Ellis Genge (England)
- Cian Healy (Ireland)
- Rob Evans (Wales)
- Kyle Sinckler (England)
- WP Nel (Scotland)
- Tomas Francis (Wales)
HOOKERS:
- George Turner (Scotland)
- Rónan Kelleher (Ireland)
- Stuart McInally (Scotland)
SECOND-ROW: (6)
- James Ryan (Ireland)
- George Kruis (England)
- Adam Beard (Wales)
- Jonny Gray (Scotland)
- Jake Ball (Wales)
- Richie Gray (Scotland)
BACK-ROW: (6)
- Sam Underhill (England)
- Billy Vunipola (England)
- Jamie Ritchie (Scotland)
- Josh Navidi (Wales)
- Peter O'Mahony (Ireland)
- Ben Earl (England)
EDITORS PICKS:
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- Jordie Barrett over Damian de Allende is far from being correct. The hype around Dupont is also overreaching, he's probably 4th in the world and has been since the 2023 WC. He also avoids certain matchups which is strange. The rest of the list is pretty good apart from minor subjective biases.JasonMarlow16-09-2026
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