The British and Irish Lions’ technical assistant, Johnny Sexton, anticipates a first Test on Saturday defined by very tight margins. Sexton believes the tourists will need an exceptional performance, not just a good one, to overcome Australia.
The former Ireland fly-half, who earned his first of six Lions call-ups in the opening match of the 2013 tour of Australia at Suncorp Stadium, dismissed expectations that Andy Farrell’s team will be the clear favorite for the match.
We don’t pay too much attention to the bookmakers’ odds or what people say. We’re just focusing on tomorrow and trying to deliver a great performance.
Johnny Sexton
Johnny Sexton (derecha) fue nombrado asistente técnico de los Lions para su gira de pruebas en Australia. David Rogers/Getty Images“Because that’s what will be needed, a great performance, not a good performance, to beat this Australian team,” added Sexton.
“They are a proud nation, they are a first-class team, well-trained. And we need to bring out our best version of ourselves tomorrow,” Sexton continued.
The Lions won the 2013 series 2-1, but only managed a victorious start in Brisbane after Australia’s Kurtley Beale slipped while attempting a late penalty kick that would have given the Wallabies the win.
Sexton, recalling his Lions debut, commented: “I think the occasion, the atmosphere, the crowds, that’s what always stays with you.”
“Obviously, when Kurtley slipped and missed the kick, the euphoria we felt. But then again, it just shows the margins of professional sport and high-level sport like the one we are going to witness tomorrow.”
“Everything will come down to something small like that, and hopefully we’ll be on the right side.”
Sexton, who played all three Tests in 2013 and in the drawn series in New Zealand four years later, said the Lions expected Australia to come out strong on Saturday.
“They’ve been at the camp for the last few weeks preparing for us, and they had a match against Fiji a couple of weeks ago from which they will have learned a lot.”
“You can talk about all the different ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’ and permutations, but ultimately, once you get on the field tomorrow, nobody remembers it, and we just move on with the game.”
