John O'Sullivantalks to Leinster's up and coming star Jonathan Sexton who hopes to face Toulouse on Saturday.
Jonathan Sexton believes in being first amongst equals certainly with regard to fielding the verbal lumps and bumps dolled out occasionally by his team-mates. At 22 and given that this season is his first ostensibly as a regular Leinster senior match squad member there is room for mitigation in assessing his performances.
The St Mary's outhalf eschews that luxury. In Leinster's most recent victory, a bonus-point victory over the Ospreys at the RDS, Sexton, at one point, was treated to an ear bashing from his inside centre, Felipe Contepomi, who knows a thing about outhalf play.
Far from being cowed the youngster is generally not averse to dispensing his own home truths and does not require others to sugar coat any criticism.
He laughed when recalling the incident: "Most of the time it's good chat. The odd time he (Contepomi) lets his Latin side come through. That's fine. I get a little bit angry myself sometimes.
"If he has a go at me I'll have a go back and it'll be forgotten about straight away. He had a go at me for one loose pass."
An occasional haranguing is a minor cavil according to Sexton when weighed against the support he's enjoyed from the Argentine in developing his game.
"He's brilliant to play alongside. He talks to you a lot, lets you know what's going on and helps you along. Gordon (D'Arcy) and Brian (O'Driscoll) would do the exact same. I don't want guys easing me into it because I'm a little bit younger. It'll obviously improve me if they are as harsh with me as they are with themselves. I'm happy with that."
On Saturday afternoon Leinster coach Michael Cheika must decide whether to start Sexton in the outhalf position - as he did against the Ospreys last weekend - when Toulouse come to town in the Heineken European Cup or instead revert to Contepomi as the team's central playmaker in the number 10 jersey.
There is a striking maturity to Sexton's performances this season, a composure that belies his age and where once his game offered an appreciable contrast to Contepomi's, the apprentice is becoming more like the master. Sexton smiles: "I don't think any player in the world is like Felipe. He's totally off the cuff, plays what he sees. The coaches here encourage that and I'm trying to do the same. I'm more structured than Felipe, kick a little bit more.
"When I was growing up Ronan (O'Gara) was the number 10 (in Irish rugby), still is. He was the guy I tried to copy when I was in school. I was trying to play the same type of game. The coaches in St Mary's encouraged that type of kicking game but then I came in here (the senior Leinster set-up); it's a different style.
"You have to change your game a lot and improve in all the other areas as well. Ronan and Felipe are the two guys that I am trying to copy, take bits of both games. Ronan would have been the guy when I was younger."
Sexton may just get an opportunity to make a closer study if Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan concurs with a groundswell of opinion that the young Irishman deserves to be included in an extended squad for the Six Nations Championship. The player is flattered to have been touted as a potential candidate but his focus remains on the weekend.
A few minutes against Edinburgh tantalised him in terms of European Cup fare but he'd like more than an amuse bouche when French rugby aristocrats Toulouse pitch up to Dublin. "I only got a few minutes in the Edinburgh game so I haven't really experienced it yet. I don't know what to expect really.
"If I get selected I get selected, if I don't then it'll be (a decision made) for the good of the team and I'll wait for my next chance to try and play well.
"I'm trying to get better with every game but I don't think it (the way I played against the Ospreys) was better than the Ulster game. I was a little bit disappointed after the game; (I made) a few mistakes."
It's a slightly harsh assessment but it's that's honesty that guarantees Sexton will continue his progress in the right direction.
