Sexton expresses frustration with Ireland’s poor form but insists Schmidt exit is not a distraction

Johnny Sexton has admitted that ‘things just aren’t clicking’ for Ireland at the moment.

Joe Schmidt’s squad are slumped in a poor run of form in the Six Nations, with last Sunday’s stuttering win over Italy following worrying displays against Scotland and England.

And Sexton’s frustrations were obvious when he was substituted in the dying minutes of the 26-16 victory in Rome, the out-half kicking a towel in disgust as he walked off the pitch.

Ireland fly-half Johnny Sexton showed his frustration after being substituted on Sunday

‘How can you not be (frustrated) when you’re doing as good a preparation as you did last year, you’re training as well as you did last year, you’re doing everything right and things just aren’t clicking,’ he said.

‘No one cares more than us, that’s the bottom line. I’m sorry if I let my frustrations boil over at times but that’s part of me and I care a lot about the team and want it to do well so you don’t always get it right, but that’s part of the job. When you care about it, you can let things boil over.’

Ireland have failed to back up their impressive form of 2018, which included a first Grand Slam since 2009 and a maiden win over the All Blacks on home soil.

Joe Schmidt (above) will be leaving his post as Ireland head coach after the World Cup

Ranked second in the world, Ireland were tipped to achieve great things at the World Cup later this year, but this squad will struggle in Japan if they don’t rapidly improve on their current form.

‘We just have to say that we haven’t been good enough yet,’ insisted World Player of the Year Sexton, speaking to Ireland AM on Virgin Media One.

‘We’ve shown glimpses in games of how good we can be… we’re trying to find that performance that we need to sort of revive us again and get us going..’ 

After six years in charge, Schmidt will be leaving his post as Ireland head coach after the World Cup, with Andy Farrell taking over, but Sexton denied that the Kiwi’s looming exit has been a reason for their downturn in form.

‘It’s not a distraction,’ he added.

‘We’ll talk about Joe for years to come when he’s finished.

‘But for the moment it’s just been business as usual. Little things here and there just haven’t gone our way and we’re working incredibly hard to put it right.’