Thumbs up from the returning number 10.
Leo Cullen has got his first very public vote of confidence as new Leinster coach, and it’s from arguably the province’s star player
Cullen takes over from Matt O’Connor on a full-time two-year basis after being named interim boss for the summer back in May.
Cullen’s first few weeks in the job will be a baptism of fire as he has to make do without a number of his frontline stars due to the World Cup.
However he will have the services of the returning Johnny Sexton to count on after the tournament, and the former Racing Metro man is looking forward to working with his past team-mate
“It’s great. It’s been rumoured for a few weeks but I think everyone in the province is delighted and he’s going to be boss and the guy to drive things forward for the next few years.”
“I think with Leo as a captain you were playing under Leo anyway and he was the Leinster leader and always led from the front.”
“We’ve played under him before but the only difference is now he’ll be up in the stand rather than out on the pitch.”
“Having been a such a successful captain he always carried a great weight within the group and that takes a great amount of leadership.”
Sexton had gone to Racing Metro before Cullen was appointed as the forwards coach with Leinster.
However the 37-year-old has picked up experience working in the English Premiership with Leicester and also had a brief spell in New Zealand before joining Matt O’Connor’s backroom team.
Sexton feels that Cullen’s experience and iconic status within Leinster will be a massive advantage to him in the early stages of his time as head coach,
“Having worked underneath him and under Joe he’s not afraid to give his honest opinion and that’s what you want from your coach. As hard as it is at times you want the brutal honesty so you can improve and
Before he gets into action with Leinster however Sexton has the small matter of the Word Cup with Ireland’s first game coming exactly a month today against Canada.”
The Dubliner has been in camp with Ireland for the last number of weeks but is now enjoying some time back in the provincial set up. He admits that Ireland are yet to really focus on their opening game next month and instead are very much looking at improving in each warm-up match
“We haven’t looked too far ahead, we haven’t even looked at our first game against Canada yet to be honest. We’re very much focused on the first two games, then a break and then when we get back into camp on Monday it will be all about Wales once again.”
“A lot of things we’re working on now will carry over into the pool games and tactics against the teams but a lot of the core things we’re working on will carry us through.”
Sexton of course returns from France this season while his Ireland captain Paul O’Connell is getting ready to end his career with Toulon.
Sexton says there was very brief contact between the two men before O’Connell announced his move and that there really was just a few key issues on the Munster man’s mind
“He asked me a few questions. Not big decison making questions from his point of view just small things about taxes and things like that and the language. Nothing too important.”
“I think he has given so much to Irish and Munster rugby over the last few years and I think everyone wishes him the best of luck.”
“The way he has done it is probably the right way to do it.”
Sexton feels that O’Connell’s body and fitness will benefit from his time in France despite what appears to be a punishing fixture schedule in the Top 14.
“He’ll finish up with Ireland after the World Cup and throw himself into Toulon and he’ll enjoy everything that goes with that. He doesn’t have to worry about travelling back for Six Nations or staying fit for it and he can just concentrate solely on Toulon and he’ll love living down on the beach.”
And how is his French coming along? Has he been practicing his verbs in Carton House recently?
“Yeah, he’s good. I got him a few CD’s and stuff so he’s probably better than the Welsh lads were after two or three years. He’s going good.”
Johnny Sexton spoke to SportsJOE at Dublin Airport to encourage Irish rugby fans to make the smart choice and fly with Aer Lingus as they travel to support the Ireland team.
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