{"id":24931,"date":"2022-01-26T14:39:21","date_gmt":"2022-01-26T19:39:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=24931"},"modified":"2022-01-26T14:39:27","modified_gmt":"2022-01-26T19:39:27","slug":"sexton-focused-on-returning-to-full-fitness-for-guinness-six-nations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=24931","title":{"rendered":"Sexton Focused On Returning To Full Fitness For Guinness Six Nations"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Sexton starred for Leinster in their 64-7 win over Bath 64-7 on Saturday (PA Images)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Ireland captain Johnny Sexton is raring to go for the Guinness Six Nations after overcoming injury and a bout of coronavirus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The fly-half suffered knee and ankle damage during Ireland’s win over New Zealand in the autumn and was then struck down by a Covid-19 infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sexton starred on his first start since the All Blacks triumph, helping Leinster beat Bath 64-7 in the Heineken Champions Cup on Saturday after coming off the bench in his province\u2019s 89-7 win over Montpellier the previous weekend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI had a frustrating couple of months, post the New Zealand game,\u201d said the 36-year-old.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut thankfully over the last few weeks I was able to step up in training and get back on the field unscathed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI was back from the knee injury ready to go and then obviously picked it (Covid) up and was sick for a week or so with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThen obviously it takes a little bit of time to get back fully fit, and then a couple of games were cancelled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe first game back was a European game so I blew the lungs out on that, it was a shock to the system but I felt much better last week and hopefully now we\u2019ll train hard this week and it will be another good step in my preparation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI know I need to train well to earn my place in the team and my focus is getting as fit and ready as possible to challenge for that spot.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ireland begin the Six Nations at home to defending champions Wales on February 5th.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With Andy Farrell\u2019s squad preparing for a pre-tournament training camp in Portugal, Ulster captain Iain Henderson is the only major injury doubt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 29-year-old has not played since sustaining an ankle issue playing for his province on December 17th but could yet be fit to face the Welsh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTo sum it all up, we expect everyone bar Iain Henderson to be training fully with us by the end of the week,\u201d said head coach Farrell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s not to say he\u2019s out of the Wales game yet. We\u2019ll take it day by day with him and see how we go.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Munster fly-half Joey Carbery was a surprise inclusion in Farrell\u2019s 37-man squad after fracturing his elbow last month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Carbery is competing with Sexton and recalled Connacht man Jack Carty for the number 10 jersey on the back of a fine cameo against New Zealand and a man-of-the-match display in the subsequent win over Argentina.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His availability is a major boost for the Irish, with Farrell declaring him \u201call systems go\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJoey has been keeping fighting fit from week two after his injury to his elbow, so he\u2019s fit as a fiddle,\u201d said Farrell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe\u2019s been doing all of the ball skills. The only thing he\u2019s had to wait for is to get the all clear to get back into contact and he\u2019s had that now so he\u2019s all systems go.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ireland are on an eight-game winning run following three stylish displays in the autumn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Farrell is eager to continue the recent progression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf you dissect it properly and be honest with yourself, you\u2019ll see how you can do things better,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn the scheme of things, you can look at the results and think that everything went swimmingly but in reality it didn\u2019t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe week after the Japan game or the All Blacks game, they were irrelevant. We\u2019re on to the next thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is the start of a new competition that means a lot to all the nations and we know we\u2019ve got to be improving constantly to make sure we\u2019re in with a chance.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leinster wing James Lowe was the notable absentee from Farrell\u2019s squad due to a hamstring injury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Asked if the player could return later in the championship, Farrell replied: \u201cWe\u2019re expecting it to be a few weeks, we don\u2019t know how many just as yet. With every hamstring, it takes its own course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJames is absolutely gutted. He will be doing everything he possibly can to get as fit as soon as he can and we\u2019ll assess it from there.\u201d<\/p>\n

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