Oct 24,2024
Johnny Sexton will help out Ireland's out-halves for the upcoming Autumn Nations Series on a consultancy basis.
The Irish Times on Tuesday reported that the former Ireland, Leinster and Lions player would link up with Andy Farrell’s coaching team for internationals against New Zealand, Argentina, Fiji and Australia in November.
Earlier today the head coach named a 35-man squad for the series, which begins against the All Blacks on Friday, 8 November at the Aviva (8.10pm).
Jack Crowley, Ciarán Frawley and Sam Prendergast are the out-half named in the panel.
Munster’s Crowley started all seven Tests since Sexton retired at the end of the World Cup last year. The 24-year-old has 15 caps in total.
Frawley, who has six Irish caps, is his preferred back-up at the moment with the 26-year-old Leinster man coming off the bench to score two late dropgoals as Ireland beat South Africa in the second summer Test last July.
Prendergast, 21, who toured with the squad but didn’t see any game time against the Springboks, is uncapped.
Sexton, who has a full-time job as a commercial manager for recyclable metal and glass packaging company, had previously stated he was not interested in a quick return to the game, suggesting that he wouldn't like to coach players he had played with.
However, he will come on board to help the relatively inexperienced out-half crop with kicking and advice, starting in the upcoming international window, with the IRFU not expected to make a formal announcement on the role.
Speaking on the Second Captains podcast recently, 39-year-old Sexton was asked about Frawley’s form in the aftermath of Leinster’s win over Munster.
The Skerries man (above) has started at out-half in Leinster’s last three games but did suffer an ankle injury against Connacht last weekend.
"As a 10, they can be your best games where the media might not be shouting about you and no one thinks you’ve had a good game, but you’ve run the team really well and your team has won," said Sexton of Frawley’s performance at Croke Park.
"That’s sometimes when you are most satisfied.
"Frawls, I think he deserves it, for that cameo alone in South Africa.
"It was incredibly impressive. I thought the first dropgoal was probably more impressive than the second dropgoal because he didn’t really need to do it, and he had the foresight to think, 'If I get a dropgoal here we only had a penalty to score'.
"He deserves his shot at the title. He deserves his shot at playing for Leinster at number 10 and then into November where him and Jack Crowley will be battling it out, Sam as well."
