'I know he's an absolute psychopath, but when he does talk, you do listen'
Ireland's Kiwi winger James Lowe has shared his insight into flyhalf Johnny Sexton and his influence after a historic year where Ireland secured a 2-1 series victory over the All Blacks.
The former Maori All Black became capped with Ireland after signing with Leinster in 2017 and switching eligibility through the three-year residency rule.
The 30-year-old got his chance to face the All Blacks in November 2021, a feat he said he never dreamed of, and managed to score a try against the side he dreamed of representing in a 29-20 win.
That success continued when Lowe returned to New Zealand this year with Ireland in the July series where the visitors overcame a 1-nil deficit to win the series, something he said wouldn't have happened without Sexton.
"You'd be naive to think that we aren't dependent on Jonathan [Sexton]," Lowe told Jim Hamilton on Rugby Roots.
"Even in that first test [against the All Blacks] when he went off for an HIA and didn't come back, we weren't the same.
"We weren't as well oiled, we weren't as efficient. He adds a sense of direction to a team."
Ireland started fast in all three tests but a critical period of play just over 20 minutes into the first test saw Ireland give an intercept try and lose Sexton to a head knock after slipping into Sam Cane.
Sexton returned to the starting side for the second Test and Ireland looked like the better side again, scoring early through prop Andrew Porter inside three minutes.
Lowe labelled Sexton a 'psychopath' who pulls the team together while the speed at which the Irish flyhalf reads the game is unrivalled.
"I know he's an absolute psychopath, but when he does talk, you do listen," Lowe said.
"He puts you in positions that are going to put you through holes, give you weak shoulders. He's an easy man to follow round.
"He's just got so much experience, without him you are not lost, but he just sees things unfold so much quicker. He knows where space is going to be.
"He knows who we are trying to load up on attack, trying to pick on, things like that.
"He's very, very experienced and very good at his job."
When Lowe left the Chiefs after the 2017 Super Rugby season to join Leinster he had to adjust to a new environment in which it became clear that Sexton was the 'head honcho', but to the Kiwi wing it wasn't initially clear why.
"There's Sexton, 100 Tests for Ireland, Lions tours, all the accolades you could think of," he said of joining the Leinster setup.
"He's on a pedestal, which I understand now, rightfully so.
"When I got here, I was like why the f*** is dude like... it was sort of a teething period, trying to peg him down as much as I can, but you never go after the King though do you?"
When asked by Hamilton how do you peg him down, Lowe recalled a time back shortly after he joined the club where he went after Sexton over his goal kicking.
"He actually missed a heap of kicks, it was the year they won the Grand Slam in 2018, I went at him on Twitter asking if anybody knew a kicking coach for a friend," he said.
"Sexto and I get on like a house on fire now, there's definitely a reason why he's been so successful and doing it at 37 years old.
"He's a full-time professional and treated like a King in there and rightly so."
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Willie will always be the most missed player for me once he retires. He wasn't interested in scoring tries. The ultimate team player. Has the most assists in tries in the Bok team, and his kicks always spot on, at least 95% of the time. He reads the game like no other player can. He wasn't flashy, and people didn't notice him because of that. Great rugby head and knowledge. He should be catapulted into an assistant coach in the rugby system. He should really consider coaching.
Damian Willemse is an excellent fullback and he is the number 1 fullback. He can play the entire backline positions, except maybe 9, but I'm sure he would be able too if he wanted. No one is taking that away from him, only stand in while he is injured. He is world class and you don't swap that out. He also got wicked dancing feet, great eye for openings, and reads a game like few can, like Willie Le Roux. Also very strong on his feet, with absolute great hands and his kicking game is just as good.
As for Aphelele Fassi. What a great find and he has exceptional talent that Rassie will mould into a world class player. Yet.... He is nowhere even close to Damien Willemse. He has a long way to go to get there, but he is surrounded by great team mates from who he will gain lots of advice and support. He can play wing and fullback and Rassie may just try him out as a flyhalf or centre too. He has the abilities to expand his game. He is for sure a future star, but not yet at the stage to take away Damien Willemse's spot. However, DW start and AF on the bench, that is an awesome replacement. Between the 2 they cover all positions in the backline once AF gets that training. The Boks could go 6/2 permanently if they wanted. 6 forwards, a scrumhalf and AF. I may be wrong, but Rassie will spread AF around.
Go to commentsGood grief
Beauden was his usual industrious self mixing deft touches with mindless kicks
6 or 7 max!!
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