Johnny Sexton will retire after the 2023 Rugby World Cup. (Photo: Steve Haag/Gallo Images)
- The 2024 Six Nations Championship begins this weekend.
- Ireland are the defending champions.
- Former Ireland full-back Hugo McNeill says there is huge pressure on Ireland to fill the void left by retired Johnny Sexton.
- For more sports news, news 24 sports cover.
Former Ireland full-back Hugo McNeil told AFP that whether Ireland will be able to successfully defend their Six Nations title will depend on coach Johnny Sexton's decision to retire after losing to New Zealand in the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals. He said that it depends on whether the “big hole” left by the government can be filled.
Sexton's retirement meant head coach Andy Farrell had to name a new captain and find a fly-half who, according to McNeil, could “decide games by the scruff of his neck”.
“There's a lot of pressure on Johnny Sexton because there's a big hole,” McNeil said.
“With all due respect to Brian O'Driscoll and Paul O'Connell who coached and coached the game and filled such a big hole, I can't think of another Irish player who retired with such a big hole.”
McNeil, who was a member of the 1982 and 1985 Triple Crown winning sides and is capped 37 times, believes Farrell's decision to appoint veteran skipper Peter O'Mahony was his first call.
The 34-year-old flanker is seen as a stopgap, starting with Friday's trip to France in what will likely be his toughest test yet as he heals from the heartbreak of a heartbreaking 28-24 defeat to the All Blacks at the World Cup. says McNeil. “Mahony is a perfect fit.
O'Mahony, who has 101 caps, has already captained Ireland 10 times and youngster James Ryan is widely seen as someone being groomed for the role.
However, Lock's fitness and form were not at their best at the World Cup.
“Andy Farrell needed to replace Sexton at fly-half, but with the best will in the world, none of the options existed in the same league and we needed to find an equally inspiring captain. ,” McNeil said.
“The Irish team are a really good team, but a group of leaders hasn’t emerged yet. Peter O’Mahony was the only one who showed that quality.
“He chose not to take risks and appointed proven leaders at the end of their careers rather than at the beginning.
“O'Mahony is highly respected and is a great player and leader.”
2024 Six Nations dates (SA time):
round 1
February 2
in marseille
France v Ireland (22:00)
February 3rd
in rome
Italy vs England (16:15)
in cardiff
Wales v Scotland (18:45)
round 2
February 10
in edinburgh
Scotland v France (16:15)
at Twickenham
England v Wales (18:45)
February 11th
in dublin
Ireland v Italy (17:00)
round 3
February 24th
in dublin
Ireland v Wales (16:15)
in edinburgh
Scotland v England (18:45)
February 25th
At the reel
France v Italy (17:00)
round 4
March 9
in rome
Italy v Scotland (16:15)
at Twickenham
England v Ireland (18:45)
March 10
in cardiff
Wales v France (17:00)
round 5
March 16th
in cardiff
Wales v Italy (16:15)
in dublin
Ireland v Scotland (18:45)
in Lyon
France vs England (2000)
'the one that got away'
The bigger question is who will take away the No. 10 shirt that Sexton has worn for more than a decade, passing off potential rivals like Joey Carberry.
Sexton has proven to be a natural successor to Ronan O'Gara, but McNeil says there is no one who fits the bill this time around.
Farrell named three players to his team.
Leinster's 20-year-old Sam Prendergast was taken to a training camp in Portugal, but more to gain experience.
Jack Crowley has performed well in a cameo appearance at the World Cup and appears to be the favorite to start against France, ahead of the more experienced Ross Byrne.
“If someone knows who's going to be number 10, that means they're smarter than you or me,” said McNeil, 65.
“Johnny Sexton's shadow looms very strongly over them. He's not a threat, but he definitely doesn't want to put any pressure on them, so it's not of his own volition, it's just a solid presence there. are doing.”
“But until someone proves otherwise, the fly-half position is going to be an issue.
“Great players come in big moments in big games. Are we completely confident that any of them can win games by the scruff of their necks in the coming weeks? Not sure.”
McNeil agrees with Farrell that it's time to move on from “the ones who got away.”
“Ireland, as a rugby nation, needs to finally get the World Cup defeat out of the system,” he said.
“We can do that by winning the title, but the question is whether we can find a fly-half who is capable of leading and directing this team.
“If one shows up, there's a good chance, but if one doesn't show up, you can't really see it.”