After a solid if unspectacular debut for Racing Metro, Jonny Sexton admitted working with Ronan O’Gara at the Paris outfit will be key to his future success.
Sexton, who featured in Ireland’s RBS 6 Nations matches against Wales and England, was on target with three out of six kicks in his first competitive match for Racing – a 19-14 victory over Brive.
He was somewhat generously named man of the match and while he believes there is plenty of room for improvement, he believes working with O’Gara – kicking coach at the club – will help him get there.
He told the Irish Independent: “I am trying to get them to keep speaking French so I get used to it. You want to hear it all the time until you get used to it. The coaches do everything in French, which is good, and I am picking it up slowly but surely.
“The big thing is to try to speak French with the guys. I’m speaking poor-to-average French and they are speaking poor-to-average English back, trying to be nice.
“The physios are good – they speak French all the time and almost give French lessons when you are getting treated for any little niggle.
“But it’s all an experience. I’m sure it will settle down soon in the next few weeks.
“Coming into training in the morning, having Rog here has made things a little bit easier, someone to bounce things off. He is a great go-between for me and the coaches, because he’s part of the coaching staff.
“And his experience will be invaluable. Even after today in that breeze he said ‘I’ve had a hundred of those games where you’re just hitting them and almost hoping at times’. That’s great to have him there.”
