The news that Johnny Sexton will start Saturday's vital Six Nations match against France was far from a surprise, but Joe Schmidt says the decision wasn't taken lightly. Paddy Jackson has had some much needed game time at out half for Ireland over the last nine months, but he has yet to make the number ten shirt his own.
Sexton has always been a key player for Schmidt. Unlike Ian Madigan, Sexton was selected when playing in France. He played three quarters of the historic win over the All Blacks in Chicago in November.
Few players would be thrust into what is expected to be a highly physical Test match having had so little game time in the last few months, but Schmidt says Sexton's history of returning from injury means he is confident that he has made the right decision.
Joe Schmidt says bringing Johnny Sexton back into the @IrishRugby team was "a call like any other." #IREvFRA pic.twitter.com/MZ0dgXu5Ea
— Ross Lindsay (@Ross_A_Lindsay) February 23, 2017
