All in the 6 Nations

Compiled by GERRY THORNLEY

Head-to-head: Sexton v Farrell

PROFILES

Sexton, at 27 and with 35 international caps, made his Leinster breakthrough in the 2009 Heineken Cup knock-out stages and his Test debut at 24, whereas at 21, the precocious Farrell has already played 13 times for England.

Sexton has also begun to transfer his usually commanding Leinster form into a green jersey, not only with a 19-point haul against Argentina and 18 points against Wales, but in the composed nature of his all-round game. Farrell took his game to a new-found maturity in a worthy Man-of-the-Match display against Scotland.

GOAL-KICKING

Though a beautiful striker of the ball, at times this has been an issue for Sexton but he comes into this game in a rich vein of form, having landed six from six last Saturday. Farrell wobbled in Thomond Park when missing four of seven penalties (maybe it was the silence?) but rectified that with 11 from 11 in the win away to Racing and, continuing the comparisons with Jonny Wilkinson, landed seven from eight last Saturday.

STYLES

Sexton passes and supports better than most outhalves and varies his game to take the ball flat or loop around his first receiver in trademark style. His defensive game is magnificent, while Farrell, the son of ex-rugby league legend Andy, puts his body on the line too and against the Scots he was taking the ball flatter and varying his distribution.

TEMPERAMENT

Both appear to be feisty, intense and hugely competitive young men, which may explain their willingness and desire to put their bodies on the line defensively, with Sexton the more experienced and mature player.

Owen Farrell

Height: 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)

Weight: 96 kg (15 st 2 lb)

Jonathan Sexton

Height: 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)

Weight: 92 kg (14 st 6 lb)

Ireland's Sunday service

Since the 2007 World Cup ended with a Sunday defeat to Argentina, Ireland went unbeaten in their ensuing eight Sunday games. Ireland won their second game in the Six Nations 38-9 in Rome, won a tour game in California against the USA Eagles that summer, and drew their only Sunday match of the 2009-10 season in their opening game of the November series at home to Australia.

Two seasons ago, Ireland beat Argentina on the final Sunday in November and beat Scotland 21-18 on the middle Sunday of the Six Nations in Murrayfield, while in the 2011 World Cup, Ireland had three Sunday wins in the pool stages over the USA, Russia and Italy (above).

However, Ireland lost on the opening Sunday last season at home to Wales (23-21) and drew 17-17 with France in Stade de France when that game was postponed and re-arranged for the Sunday between rounds three and four.

A tad unnervingly, England have won their last seven matches played on a Sunday!

IRELAND’S SUNDAY SUNDAE

Feb 15th, 2009 (6N) Stadio Flaminio, Italy 9 Ireland 38.

May 31st, 2009, (Summer tour) California, USA 10 Ireland 27.

Nov 15th, 2009, (Nov test) Croke Park, Ireland 20 Argentina 20.

Nov 28th, 2010 (Nov Test) Aviva Stadium, Ireland 29 Argentina 9.

Feb 27th, 2011 (6N) Murrayfield, Scotland 18 Ireland 21.

Sept 11th, 2011 (RWC) New Plymouth, Ireland 22 USA 10.

Sept 25th, 2011 (RWC) Rotorua, Ireland 62 Russia 12.

Oct 2nd, 2011 (RWC) Dunedin, Ireland 36 Italy 6.

Feb 5th, 2012 (6N) Aviva Stadium, Ireland 21 Wales 23.

Mar 4th, 2012 (6N) Stade de France, France 17 Ireland 17.

Opening acts

Ireland have not won their opening two games of a Six Nations campaign since they won the Grand Slam in 2009, whereas England have won their opening two games of a Six Nations campaign for the past four seasons.

Even odds

Having, surprisingly, initially made Ireland slight two-point favourites against England, Paddy Power now make Sunday’s encounter a 50-50, scratch game, with both sides at 10/11 while you can get 18/1 the draw.