Johnny Sexton has reassured Ireland fans that he is "ready to go" against Australia at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday night - despite initially fearing he could miss out.
Sexton was able to train yesterday and again today at the IRFU's high performance centre in Abbotstown and his declaration will come as a massive boost to head coach Andy Farrell ahead of the final Autumn series fixture at the Aviva Stadium.
The 37-year-old skipper suffered a dead leg early in the second half during Ireland's stirring victory against South Africa a week and a half ago.
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As expected, he sat out the following win over Fiji last Saturday, but with Joey Carbery ruled out as he goes through return to play protocols and Ciarán Frawley sidelined for three to four months after a knee operation, Farrell will be relieved his driving force at out-half is OK.
“Yeah, (the leg is) good," said Sexton. I trained today and ready to go."
However he admitted that he harboured some doubts that he could miss out against the Wallabies.
“A little bit, yeah," he confided. "Last week was a bit of a struggle with swelling and fluid and stuff like that.
"It was just managing that and then making sure I get the right amount of training in this week to be able to perform but also not do too much that swells it up again. It’s good to go, feels good and I’m ready.”
Without Sexton, Ireland lacked the drive and nous to really put the Fijians to the sword, despite enjoying over eight minutes in the visitors' 22 last weekend.
The Leinster star acknowledged that it wasn't the performance the players had been looking for.
“It certainly wasn’t at the level that we want and expect of each other,” Sexton continued.
“It’s a collective thing and something we need to try and put right this week against a team that will be hurting from the Italian game but also a team that was a couple of minutes away from beating France in France, which is obviously a tough thing to do, every other team has found that out as well.
“It’s not really about a clean sweep. It’s just about the next game and getting a brilliant performance out there.
"When you get to international rugby, it’s about winning, of course, but you’re never truly satisfied until you play well and you win.
"And then you can be content in the dressing room after and enjoy a beer together.
"But when you don’t play well and you win, you might as well be in a losing dressing room – well, not quite, but nearly.”
Sexton and Josh van der Flier have been nominated on the four-man shortlist for World Rugby Player of the Year and will be heading to Monaco on Sunday for the award ceremony.
And Sexton, who won the award in 2018, acknowledged: "It’s always nice to be recognised like that, I’m not going to lie.
"It’s not something you go searching for but to be recognised in that area is very special.
"I would prefer a win and to play well on Saturday than win that, because ultimately at the end of the day, it’s opinion - whereas what you produce on Saturday is what it is, what you see, and it’s the only thing you can control.
"All my focus is on that and to be recognised is enough.”
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