Kapten Irlandia Johnny Sexton sangat terpukul karena diabaikan untuk tur Lions Inggris dan Irlandia 2021 di Afrika Selatan dan akan melawan bos Lions dan Wales Warren Gatland untuk pertama kalinya sejak pembukaan Six Nations hari Sabtu di Cardiff
Terakhir Diperbarui: 02/02/23 09:16
Kapten Irlandia Johnny Sexton menegaskan dia tidak menyimpan dendam terhadap pelatih kepala Wales Warren Gatland tentang penghinaan Inggris dan Irlandia yang menyakitkan.
Fly-half Sexton sangat terpukul karena diabaikan untuk tur 2021 di Afrika Selatan dan akan melawan bos Lions Gatland untuk pertama kalinya sejak pembukaan Six Nations hari Sabtu di Cardiff.
Dia secara mengesankan menanggapi kekecewaan besar itu – memimpin negaranya ke Triple Crown, kesuksesan seri bersejarah di Selandia Baru dan peringkat teratas dunia selama 12 bulan terakhir.
Pria berusia 37 tahun, yang pada hari Rabu berlatih tanpa masker untuk pertama kalinya sejak menjalani operasi tulang pipi bulan lalu, bertemu Gatland pada acara peluncuran Six Nations minggu lalu di London dan mengatakan tidak ada permusuhan yang tersisa.
“Itu adalah sesuatu yang tidak pernah Anda dapatkan kembali, itulah mengapa sangat menyakitkan pada saat itu,” kata turis Lions dua kali itu dalam konferensi pers di kamp pelatihan Irlandia di Portugal.
“Tetapi orang-orang membuat keputusan mereka dan, pada saat itu, mereka mungkin membuat mereka untuk apa yang mereka anggap sebagai alasan yang tepat.
“Saya bertemu dengannya saat peluncuran dan tidak ada permusuhan atau apa pun. Saya berjabat tangan dan menyapa.
“Saya bergaul sangat baik dengannya di dua tur sebelumnya, yang mungkin mengapa itu sangat menyakitkan. Tapi memang begitu. Sudah berakhir sekarang, sudah lama sekali.”
Gatland memilih untuk memilih Dan Biggar, Finn Russell dan Owen Farrell sebagai opsi nomor 10 melawan Springboks, sebelum memanggil Marcus Smith sebagai pelindung.
Orang Selandia Baru, yang kembali bertugas untuk kedua kalinya di Wales pada bulan Desember, mengakui minggu ini bahwa Sexton “mungkin” telah membuktikan bahwa dia salah dengan penampilan bagusnya berikutnya.
Pelatih kepala Wales, Warren Gatland mengatakan minggu lalu telah menjadi ‘tantangan’ setelah film dokumenter BBC mengangkat tuduhan seksisme di dalam WRU, tetapi menegaskan fokus para pemain sepenuhnya pada pertandingan pembuka Enam Negara mereka melawan Irlandia
Dia juga mengklaim pertandingan Stadion Principality akhir pekan ini adalah “pukulan bebas” bagi tuan rumah karena Irlandia menjadi favorit yang luar biasa, sebuah penilaian yang ditolak mentah-mentah oleh Sexton.
Mungkin itu yang dia katakan tapi dia pasti belum memilih tim yang akan menyarankan itu pukulan bebas karena dia memilih tim yang berpengalaman, kata Sexton, yang fit dan tersedia untuk memulai setelah cedera wajahnya baru-baru ini.
“Dia telah membawa kembali beberapa orang yang lebih tua yang menyarankan dia menargetkan permainan ini.
“Jika dia melihat pukulan bebas, dia akan memilih semua pemain muda, berikan pukulan dan lihat apakah mereka bisa lolos ke Piala Dunia.
“Kami jelas tidak mempersiapkan seperti itu. Kami sedang mempersiapkan pertandingan Tes penuh di Stadion Principality yang merupakan tempat yang sangat sulit untuk dilalui dan dimenangkan. Hanya itu yang telah kami bicarakan dan persiapkan.”
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