Ireland full-back Jimmy O’Brien is adamant that Johnny Sexton’s three-game suspension will not affect the team ahead of their preparations for the upcoming Rugby World Cup in France.
Sexton will miss Ireland’s warm-up games against Italy, England and Samoa in August after he was found guilty of a European Professional Club Rugby misconduct charge made against him following Leinster’s Champions Cup final loss to La Rochelle at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on May 20.
The veteran fly-half, who was not playing in the game, went on to the pitch after the match – which Leinster lost 27-26 – and became involved in what looked like a heated exchange with South African referee Jaco Peyper and other match officials.
Available for selection for Ireland’s World Cup opener
The 38-year-old will be available for selection for Ireland’s Rugby World Cup opener against Romania in Bordeaux on September 9.
Although the 2018 World Rugby Player of the Year’s absence for those warm-up matches will be a setback for Ireland, O’Brien, who plays his club rugby with Sexton for Leinster, feels they must just deal with it as a team.
“It is what it is,” he told the BBC. “We’ll just keep going, and other lads will get a chance [to play in the warm-up games]. He’ll be back for the World Cup, and it hasn’t really affected us much.”
Ireland have been drawn into a tough World Cup pool, and apart from that clash with Romania, they will also take on Scotland, Tonga and current holders South Africa.
O’Brien, who has represented Ireland in five Tests, is hoping to make the most of the opportunities presented to him during his country’s warm-up matches.
“Hopefully, I get a chance to play in a few of them,” he added.
“There are so many good players I’m sure everyone will be the same, and they’ll all get a chance. Whenever I play, hopefully, I play well and put my hand up.”
Meanwhile, Ireland and Leinster centre Robbie Henshaw has revealed that Sexton has accepted his suspension, although it was not a big talking point in Ireland’s squad.
“We haven’t really gone there yet,” he said. “No, it hasn’t really been discussed.
“Everyone knows it is what it is. To be fair, I was speaking to Johnny about it and he’s taking it really well; he’s OK about it… now.”
With Sexton set to retire after the global showpiece, it means he will not get a chance to play on home soil again as two of Ireland’s warm-up games – against Italy and England – are at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on August 5 and 19 before they face Samoa in Bayonne on August 26.
Did not appeal suspension
Although Sexton had the option of appealing his suspension, he opted not to do that, and Henshaw has no qualms with that decision.
“I suppose it is good that it is done and it is not lingering on,” he added.
“We knew it was going on in the background. Nobody had an idea of what was going to come of it. I think everyone was on the same page.
“Luckily, we had our hands full with training and meetings. Thankfully nobody got too distracted by it.
“It’s unfortunate Johnny won’t be there for the home games in particular. That’s probably the most disappointing thing for him and for us. For him to play in the Aviva is a big thing, but I suppose looking at it, it’s great we have him for the World Cup.”
READ MORE: Johnny Sexton: Everything you need to know about the Ireland legend
The article Ireland players discuss the impact of Johnny Sexton’s ‘disappointing’ ban appeared first on Planetrugby.com.
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