After an exchange of words this week with one of his former doctors regarding his history with brain injury, Johnny Sexton has failed the latest stage of his return-to-play protocol and is out of Ireland’s team to entertain France on Sunday. He is one of four changes to the Ireland team that started last weekend’s defeat in Cardiff, with a further four to the bench.
One of the incoming players, Iain Henderson, has been made captain in Sexton’s absence, replacing James Ryan, for whom he came on in the first half against Wales, following the latter’s brain injury. Ryan was ruled out earlier in the week, with Sexton’s exclusion and added blow.
The four changes amount to a huge loss of experience for Ireland. Peter O’Mahony is suspended, following his red card in the first quarter against Wales. He is replaced in the back row by Rhys Ruddock, who starts a Six Nations match for the first time at the age of 30. Then, to add injury to injury, Conor Murray was ruled out with a hamstring strain 15 minutes before the team announcement on Friday. He is replaced by Jamison Gibson-Park, whose place on the bench is taken by the youngster Craig Casey of Munster.
In a further twist to the rich narrative unfolding, Sexton’s place at fly-half is taken by Billy Burns, who has suffered an uncomfortable week of his own, some unseemly attention on social media investigating his ambitious penalty to the corner with the last kick in Cardiff. He overcooked it and was visibly distraught when the referee blew the final whistle. His reaction to the experience will be no less scrutinised this weekend, not least by the French.
But it is French scrutiny of Sexton’s injury record that has dominated the build-up. Sexton might be said to have won the war of words, his former doctor from a two-year stint in Paris with Racing 92 apologising for his misleading statements regarding Sexton’s susceptibility to brain injury. Dr Jean-Francois Chermann stood Sexton down for three months in 2014, following a run of such injuries, and described Sexton earlier in the week as having suffered “30 concussions” in his career.
Ireland Keenan; Earls, Ringrose, Henshaw, Lowe; Burns, Gibson-Park; Healy, Herring, Porter, Beirne, Henderson (capt), Ruddock, Van der Flier, Stander Reps: Kelleher, E Byrne, Furlong, Dillane, Connors, Casey, R Byrne, Larmour
France Dulin; Penaud, Vincent, Fickou, Villiere; Jalibert, Dupont; Baille, Marchand, Haouas, Le Roux, Willemse, Jelonch, Ollivon (capt), Alldritt Rep: Bourgarit, Kolingar, Atonio, Taofifenua, Cretin, Serin, Bouthier, Thomas
Sexton spoke angrily about what he saw as a betrayal of doctor-patient confidentiality, not to mention the citing of what was a false statistic. He described the distress such speculation was having on his family. Andy Farrell, Ireland’s coach, was no less disgusted. “Honestly,” he said at the team announcement, “I thought it stunk on so many grounds. I’ll leave it at that.”
In his apology, Dr Chermann explained that the estimate of 30 included Sexton’s experiences with sub-concussive injuries, the kind rugby players all too often shake off without any formal diagnosis. In the end, caution over Sexton’s health has rightly prevailed, no matter the impact his loss will have on Ireland’s prospects of winning on Sunday, a vital directive if they are to retain any interest in the title. This is the first time Ireland have started a Six Nations match without Sexton or Murray for nigh-on 10 years, a 19-13 defeat in Cardiff in March 2011 the last time.
They face a side who could not be more confident. France make a couple of changes themselves, entirely voluntarily, entirely bewilderingly to anyone considering the form of the replaced players, entirely reasonably given the quality of those coming in. Teddy Thomas was one of the shining lights on the opening weekend, but he must step aside for the outrageously gifted Damian Penaud. Meanwhile, Dylan Cretin scored the opening try of this year’s championship. He has been replaced by Castres’s Anthony Jelonch. The 24-year-old flanker is making his first start in a Six Nations match too.
An Ireland side without the familiar names of Murray, Sexton, O’Mahony and Ryan in an Aviva Stadium without the familiar roar of its locals may not represent a bad opportunity to make such an entrance. Nevertheless, Ireland, following the defeat in Cardiff and subsequent fall-out, are closing rank in familiar fashion.
