“There’s a chance that Johnny Sexton might be at home" - Brian O'Driscoll
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Former British and Irish Lions captain Brian O’Driscoll says that Ireland captain Johnny Sexton may not tour with the Lions this summer.
Speaking on Off The Ball, the four-time Lions tourist said: 'There’s a chance that Johnny Sexton might be at home and that’s the reality of it.'
Speaking about Sexton’s chances of selection, O'Driscoll acknowledged that the Ireland stalwart is not guaranteed a place in Gatland’s squad and added that Irish rugby supporters have an “inflated view” of flyhalf.
'If I’m selecting it, he is [guaranteed]. If I’m looking at Warren Gatland’s squad I don’t think he’s locked and loaded. Just because of the age profile and the issues more recently.; O’Driscoll told Off the Ball.
'We have an inflated view of Sexton, versus over there' 🦁
Brian O'Driscoll says Sexton is in danger of missing out on Lions selection.
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'For me, that creates an uncertainty. Also, the fact that Dan Biggar’s definitely going and Owen Farrell’s definitely going. Is he going to pick one more?
'It’s very hard to leave out Finn Russell in that regard. He’s going to get an awful lot of flak even though Russell is not a Warren Gatland-type player.
'[Sexton] has got a lot of credit in the bank from his performances, particularly what he did against England, so I think he is in. But I still think he’ll have a nervous night because he won’t take it for granted.'
'There’s a chance that Johnny Sexton might be at home and that’s the reality of it. It depends on where you’re talking. Here we think Johnny should go but in the UK he’s not in lots of people’s squads,' O’Driscoll said.
“We have an inflated view versus what’s going on over there of this current Johnny Sexton.
“I think we were all huge admirers three or four years ago but it just feels as though because of the age profile and getting less game time – it does affect your opinion of how someone can perform in a very physical environment.”
