Jonathan Sexton returns to Ireland side after 12-week layoff

Ireland's Jonathan Sexton warms up during the Captain's Run at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, February 13, 2015. Cathal McNaughton /Reuters

England’s Farrell wants team to keep up the momentum

Fly-half Jonathan Sexton is back in Ireland’s line-up for the Six Nations champion’s game against France on Saturday, but his return has not been made with haste said Irish team scrum coach Greg Feek on Friday.

Sexton, who was a key member of the Irish team that won the Six Nations title last year and recorded wins over South Africa and Australia in November, will play his first competitive game since he was stood down for 12 weeks after he received several concussions last year.

Feek said yesterday there was no way the Irish would risk their star fly-half unnecessarily.

“We’ve got brilliant medical and conditioning staff,” said Feek, 39, a former All Blacks prop. “What is the right game to start a player who is coming back?

“He [Sexton] has worked really hard and done wonders to get back to fitness and it is a credit to him. Obviously we have also had to measure whether he has not been rushing it.”

Ireland captain Paul O’Connell, who will win his 98th cap today, said it was a huge boost to have a player of Sexton’s abilities back in the line-up and that it would be no surprise if he were targeted by the French.

“His injury has helped him have a mini pre-season really and freshen his mind and also look after his hamstring,” O’Connell said.

“To have a player of his experience back is super.

“He is a great player and he knows what [coach] Joe [Schmidt] wants.”

O’Connell, who is bidding to lead Ireland to their ninth successive Test win, said that, contrary to the poor reviews for France’s 15-8 victory over Scotland last Saturday, this French side will be dangerous.

“Potentially they are as good as any French side we have played,” said the iconic Munster lock, who admitted the Irish had to improve on their opening 26-3 win over Italy.

“In terms of natural talent, skill and pace they have it all. Joe is especially keen on [wing] Yoann Huget. But to be honest they have great players all over the pitch.

“It will be a massive task for us, it always is.”

Andy Farrell, the England backs coach, has warned his players not to take their foot off the gas when they take on Italy at ­Twickenham.

England came from behind to win 21-16 in Wales last weekend to elevate their title credentials and they face an Italian side who were convincingly beaten last week.

“In the Six Nations you have to make sure that mentally and emotionally you’re in the right place to put your plan into action on the field,” Farrell said.

“That’s important against Italy as well because let’s not forget that it was a cup final for everyone last weekend.

“To win a championship you have five of those cup finals.”

Farrell said the English coaching staff’s main aim in midweek had been to keep the players focused.

“We showed the players what they did well against Wales and what they didn’t do well,” he said.

“Mentally we brought them down a bit and then built them back up again.

“Hopefully against Italy we’ll be at that cup final stage again.”

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