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Johnny Sexton will realize a boyhood dream when he captains Ireland for the first time in Thursday\u2019s World Cup clash with Russia.<\/p>\nJohnny Sexton will realize a boyhood dream when he captains Ireland for the first time in Thursday\u2019s World Cup clash with Russia.<\/p>\n
The 34-year-old British and Irish Lions fly-half will take the armband with Ireland making 11 changes to face the Russians, resting the likes of World Cup skipper Rory Best.<\/p>\n
Sexton is fit again after a bang to the thigh that kept him out of Sunday\u2019s 19-12 defeat by hosts Japan, and revealed his pride and excitement at being handed the honor of leading his country.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a massive honor; I spoke to Joe Schmidt this morning so I only found out myself over the last few hours,\u201d said Sexton.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo I haven\u2019t even had a chance yet to tell my family or anything, but I\u2019m sure they\u2019re going to be very proud as well.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s something that I\u2019ve thought about since I was a kid, it\u2019s something that \u201cI\u2019ve made a lot of decisions in or around trying to get there.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s taken a while but it was worth the wait and I\u2019m incredibly proud.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to be captain now of a good performance and a good win in a World Cup game so that\u2019s my focus now.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think anything changes really for me.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have a big responsibility in the team for me anyway, so nothing\u2019s changed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sexton toughed out Ireland\u2019s fine 27-3 win over Scotland that set them rolling from the off in Pool A.<\/p>\n
The 85-cap Ireland play-maker had to cede kicking duties to Conor Murray due to that bang to the thigh against Scotland, and then that same niggle forced him out of the Brave Blossoms loss.<\/p>\n
Now, though, he insists he is fully fit \u2013 and ready to kick goals against Russia.<\/p>\n
Asked if he is 100 per cent fit again, Sexton said: \u201cYes, I kicked a little bit yesterday.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen I kicked again today in both sessions so I feel good to go now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ireland\u2019s clash against Russia will be played out under the Kobe Misaki Stadium\u2019s closed roof.<\/p>\n
Scotland\u2019s 34-0 victory over Samoa in the same ground on Monday proved a hugely humid affair, with condensation causing all sorts of handling issues for both teams.<\/p>\n
Sexton admitted Ireland must be on their guard and adapt their game accordingly, to cope with the unusual conditions.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe watched the game last night and we watched the England game there as well,\u201d said Sexton.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen it\u2019s an indoor stadium you think air con and whatever and it will be a bit cooler, but it\u2019s quite the opposite from what we hear.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo it\u2019s something we\u2019re going to have to be mindful of but even when you play outside the ball gets quite slippery, the boys said it got that way against Japan, especially in the second-half.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe longer the game went on the sweatier everything got and the ball ended up like a bar of soap.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo it\u2019s something we have to be conscious of, we\u2019ve got to go out and play smartly, but hopefully it won\u2019t make too much impact.\u201d<\/p>\n