Sexton the student ready for the big exam

CHRIS WHITAKER, flanked by Luke Fitzgerald and Jonathan Sexton, put a whole range of issues and generations on the table yesterday at Bective’s ground in Donnybrook: a grizzled Australian scrumhalf, Whitaker; a young prince and already a Lion, Fitzgerald; and an outhalf, Sexton, growing into the pivotal position that requires clear thinking as much as football ability.

Putting an old head on young shoulders can be risky, as breaking down confidence can often be more easily done than building it.

In Sexton, Leinster have a number 10 in the process of change. And unashamedly so. The St Mary’s College player is confident but humble, softly spoken but charged with ambition, wanting to be the best, the starting outhalf, but eagerly accepting any scraps Felipe Contepomi might throw.

“Probably my style of play changed 100 per cent from the type of player I used to be in school to what I’m trying to be now,” he says. “And Felipe has helped me. I was a kicking outhalf when I came out of school with Michael (Cheika), David Knox and now (Alan) Gaffney and with Felipe helping me out.

“I’ve been asked so many questions about Felipe but I can’t say enough about how much I’ve learned from him. I probably spend more time with him in training talking. There’s a very good relationship.

“I’ve tried to develop different aspects of the game, which I feel is essential if I want to play for Leinster first of all and, hopefully, go on and play internationally.”

It’s his first Heineken Cup semi-final, and while it’s probable the Argentine will start, Sexton knows his game is as different to Contepomi’s as Munster’s Tomás O’Leary’s is from Peter Stringer’s. From the bench Sexton can dramatically change Leinster’s points of attack. His strength is in differences rather than similarities with Contepomi.

“I think every player in the 22, if you ask them they’ll think they’re the man for the job. That’s what got them there in the first place. My job is just to try and do my best in every game I get,” he says.

“I’ve been happy enough with my form and that’s what I want to keep doing, just keep trying to do well and put pressure on Cheiks (the coach, to pick me).”

With 37 Leinster caps Sexton should believe he will play a part against Munster. The incumbent has some history with the champions, which has occasionally shown him in a light that belies his natural verve and ability. Munster will work hard on jimmying open that psychological fissure.

But at 23, it is difficult for Sexton to nudge a seasoned international to one side. Again, it comes back to positional maturity.

“Maybe, yeah,” he says of the position requiring a particular mind set. “If you look at Luke (Fitzgerald) and Rob (Kearney), they came straight out of school and seamlessly walked into Leinster and Ireland and now they are both British and Irish Lions.

“I think outhalf, you have to be a little bit more patient. When you do make the full step up you do have to have that experience behind you. I look back on this season and see I’ve learned a lot of things. I’ve had a lot of ups and downs – maybe more downs than ups, but I’ve learned from it. Sitting here now I probably wouldn’t take back any of the season.”

Sexton has never played in Croke Park. It will open his eyes. It may, in one day, even add a few years knowledge to the 23 already there.