France are going to be gunning for Johnny Sexton on Sunday.
Three of Sexton's former Racing Metro teammates spoke to media ahead of the Pool D decider and each singled out Sexton as someone who will receive special attention.
Earlier this week, we discovered that the lasting impression which Sexton left at his ex-club was a negative one. Speaking anonymously to French publication Midi Olympique, one former teammate of his at the Top 14 side described him as 'the Zlatan Ibrahimovic of rugby'.
Still, there's undoubtedly a respect for the player's ability. This is reflected in the remarks at Wednesday's press conference.
Eddy Ben Arous won't being going after the Ireland out-half with a routine 100%. The prop is setting his focus on him '200%'.
I know that he is slow in getting rid of the ball, I am going to try and put the maximum pressure on him.
I am going to hunt him down as often as possible.
We are going to go after him 200 percent because he is the strong man of this team.
Echoing Arous' comments, winger Brice Dulin stated effecting Sexton's game by putting him under pressure is a prime objective for Les Bleus.
It is imperative to go after him, to tire him so that he finds it tough to make the calls.
He has a certain manner of playing for Ireland. He loves to be in the vanguard in order to build the attacks, and behind, he is capable of taking the pressure off at any moment.
It is of the greatest importance to be able to read him in his attitude, his positioning, to anticipate what he is going to put into motion.
Judging by comments from centre Alexandre Dumoulin, the French are going to do a lot of running down Sexton's channel.
We know that like all other countries, if a number ten is compelled to tackle a lot, he will be tired and therefore a little less lucid in the decisions he takes during the match.
To target him might be a solution but not the only one to beat this Ireland side.
[AFP]
Picture credit: Sportsfile
