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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2020
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DUBLIN (AFP) - Ireland host Scotland in their
opening Six Nations clash in Dublin tonight
with both sides desperate to put a disap-
pointing World Cup behind them.
The Scots’ last win in Dublin came 10 years
ago while the Irish have lost just one home
Six Nations match - to England in 2019 - in the
past ive years.
Here AFP Sport picks out three key things
which could decide the match:
PRESSURE ON SEXTON
Johnny Sexton
(pic right)
has faced pressure
before with Leinster and Ireland but tonight’s
game could be one of his most testing.
The 34-year-old ly-half returns after near-
ly a two-month absence due to a knee injury
but insisted he is raring to go.
He also captains his country for the irst time
in a Six Nations at an age when he may have
thought that possibility had passed him by.
He describes it as the “greatest honour”.
However, some have questioned the ap-
pointment as the competitive streak which
strays into bad humour at times has jarred in
the past.
“He explains it by saying this is the way I
am but that is not good enough,” former Ire-
land ly-half Tony Ward told AFP last year.
“Leaders are meant to inspire not alienate.”
Aside from that, Sexton will be expected
to run things with Scotland number one Finn
Russell absent due to being punished for
breaking team rules.
However, he said Adam Hastings - mak-
ing his irst Six Nations start - presents just
as much a problem as the Racing 92 star with
his “box of tricks”.
WELLINGTON (AFP) - Former Wales coach
Warren Gatland celebrated his Super
Rugby debut with a telling victory yes-
terday as his Waikato Chiefs fought back
with four second-half tries to beat the
Auckland Blues 3729.
Aaron Cruden was a key dierence
when he came o the bench after the break
to turn the Chiefs’ fortunes around in the
season opener of the southern hemisphere
club championship at Eden Park.
After a revitalised Blues side had
controlled the irst half, leading 195 at
the turn, it was Cruden’s ability to get
the Chiefs’ backline moving, with Anton
Lienert-Brown also coming o the bench
to add punch, that saw the visitors climb
back into the game.
“They threw everything at us in the
irst half and we were just hanging in
there, then our bench came on and made
an impact in that second half,” captain
Sam Cane said, adding they received a
clear message from Gatland at half-time.
“It was about eliminating a few errors
and getting down the right end of the
park. To our credit, every time we got into
their 22 we looked like we were going to
score points, and I’m stoked the way we
pulled it o,” Cane said.
The Blues have been last in the New
Zealand conference for the past six sea-
sons but looked a changed unit in the irst
half when they out-muscled the Chiefs
and showed enterprise with three tries.
The irst, by Tony Lamborn, came
from a one-handed overhead pass by TJ
Faiane, while slick passing between Jona-
than Ruru and Stephen Perofeta opened
up the Chiefs defence for Rieko Ioane to
score the second, and Ioane scored the
third by crashing through three would-
be tacklers.
Ireland and Scotland look to
shake off World Cup hangover
Sexton will also be determined to put be-
hind him what was an underwhelming World
Cup for him and his team.
He has described the 4614 mauling by
New Zealand in the quarter-inals as one he
won’t forget for the rest of his life.
HOGG FACES TOUGH BAPTISM AS SKIPPER
If Sexton is under pressure then spare a thought
for Scotland’s new captain Stuart Hogg.
Hard enough in your irst Six Nations
match as skipper to face a side you have not
beaten in Dublin for 10 years and got well
beaten by in the World Cup.
Even harder when the other world class play-
er in the Scotland team, Finn Russell is absent.
Hogg, though, has been thorough in seek-
ing advice and was due to speak to another
Scotland great who skippered the side from
full-back, Gavin Hastings.
“Gavin would be a good one to have a
chat with...of how you bring the best out of
players in the frontline from being so far be-
hind,” said the 27-year-old.
Hogg’s ability to turn a game with his
breaks into the backline could hurt the Irish
defence provided he is not too distracted by
his added responsibilities.
Captaincy may also take his mind o other
matters after he revealed he lost his hair fol-
lowing a hair transplant because he bleached
it too quickly.
A second operation has, however, re-
stored his locks.
“It was a little bit painful,” he told the Rug-
by Union podcast.
He will hope tonight is not as painful.
WILL THE IRISH DOG BITE?
Irish rugby icon Brian O’Driscoll believes
there is no “dog” in the present Irish scrum
and that is hurting them.
The former centre said there is no one like
ex-Irish lanker Sean O’Brien in being able to
“impose themselves” on the opposition and
be “nasty”.
His former Leinster teammate Sexton
smiled when it was raised.
“I saw the headline and the gist of it. Look,
I can understand what he is saying.
“But there are a few guys in there who
have a bit of grunt about them. Hopefully
they can show that.”
Gatland a winner as
Chiefs down Blues
to open Super
Rugby season