Jonathan Sexton determined to do better – Rugby News Update
Jonathan Sexton, the 26-year-old Leinster and Ireland fly-half wants his team to put up an improved show when they take on New Zealand for the final test next week.
Ireland is currently touring the southern hemisphere nation to play a three-match test series, and they have lost the first two. After being convincingly beaten in the first test at Eden Park, they ran their opponents close in the second test, and lost 22
– 19, to virtually the final kick of the game.
Sexton was massively disappointed by not giving Ireland the lead in the closing stages of the game, and believes that his kicking abilities need to be at a 100% if Ireland has to win.
"I probably needed to strike it 100% for it to go over in those conditions," he said. "It was a cold night and a 50-metre kick, even longer on the angle, so I knew I had to hit it absolutely perfectly for it to go over. They are the type of kicks that you
have to step up and take but I didn't catch it perfectly. It wasn't the worst strike I've ever made; it was on target but just a metre and a bit short."
The second test at Christchurch started favourably for Ireland, and by half time they were leading the hosts 10 – 9. Sexton had converted after a try by Murray and then scored a penalty in the 18th minute to give his team a 10 – 0 lead but the
All Blacks rallied back before the half time whistle and went into the break with a 1 point deficit.
Sexton carried on the good work in the second half and scored a further three penalties at the 44th, 63rd and 68th minute. At that moment the game was tied at 19 – 19, and anyone could have taken it. With virtually the last
kick of the game in the 79th minute, Dan Carter scored a drop goal to give the All Blacks victory by 3 points.
Sexton was disappointed with the result, and feels that the reason they were undone was because the referee was not giving the team in defence any leeway.
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