Ireland's Simon Easterby has admitted it will be difficult to rest Johnny Sexton at this year's Rugby World Cup because of his importance to the side.
The Irish team won 82-8 against Romania in their opening game of the Rugby World Cup, and it was Ireland's captain, whose 24-point haul became one of the game's main talking points.
After 25 weeks without a game of competitive rugby, the Leinster star now sits just nine points shy of Ronan O'Gara's national record points tally of 1083.
Ireland plays Tonga this week in their second game, and there have been calls to rest Sexton for the South Africa and Scotland games in the coming weeks. Jack Crowley, who replaced Sexton, is one of the men waiting if Ireland decides to rest Sexton.
However, Defence coach Simon Easterby believes that Sexton wants to play every minute he can at this World Cup. The Leinster out-half is set to retire from the game when the tournament ends.
"Johnny’s not got potentially many more times wearing the green jersey, and – those of you who know him – he wants to play every minute that he can," Easterby said this week.
"That will be a conversation between him and Faz (head coach Andy Farrell) and making sure that he and Faz are happy with the discussions and how they want to map out the next couple of weeks.
"But certainly from our end, he’s the captain, he’s the talisman in the squad, and the more minutes he can play, the better."
Johnny Sexton marks his return with a try!
What did you make of that first half from #IRE?#RWC2023 pic.twitter.com/S7EHxjeYfU
— ITV Rugby (@ITVRugby) September 9, 2023
While Sexton is nearing the end of his career, a number of players are starting to find their feet on their own. Ireland fielded 10 World Cup debutants against Romania in Bordeaux, and one of those was Joe McCarthy, who scored one of the 12 tries.
The Leinster youngster admitted that making his World Cup bow in France was a nervy one but also described the experience as 'unbelievable.'
"I was very nervous, to be honest, the most nervous I’ve felt in a while before a game. Because it’s the World Cup, there are so many more eyes on it, you’re getting more texts," he said.
"It just feels like a big occasion, and you kind of want to put your best foot forward. There were a lot of nerves going into it. I think everybody felt that.
"A bit of nerves is good; it keeps you on your toes.
"It was unbelievable. The fans were crazy; the Irish fans are just buzzing when they travel away.
"It was class, one of the best atmospheres I’ve ever been in."
See More: 2023 Rugby World Cup, Ireland, Rugby
