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"I'm astonished he didn't say Sexton" | Irish rugby's player of the decade

As we approach the tail-end of the 2010s, the question of Irish rugby's greatest player of the de...



Rugby

"I'm astonished he didn't say Sexton" | Irish rugby's player of the decade

As we approach the tail-end of the 2010s, the question of Irish rugby's greatest player of the decade came up on Wednesday's OTB AM

An addendum to last night's contribution to the question by Ronan O'Gara, the former Munster and Ireland out-half shared his thoughts on who was the outstanding candidate.

"You know who has been stand-out for me," stated O'Gara after a long pause, "Cian Healy.

"I just admire his temperament, his drive and I think he is a seriously impressive player and a really good guy."

One part of wildly successful teams with Leinster and Ireland, it should not perhaps come as such a surprise that O'Gara vouched for the experienced prop.

Nevertheless, given that Jonathan Sexton, a teammate of Healy for almost the entirety of the decade and only Ireland's second recipient of the World Player of the Year award, went unmentioned, the lads on Wednesday's OTB AM discussed who they would have as their #1.

"That was left-field," noted a somewhat exasperated Ger Gilroy.

"I am very, very surprised he didn't say Sexton," admitted Eoin Sheahan subsequently. "I'm astonished actually.

"For me, it is Johnny Sexton and then have your argument about who is second in the list.

"Cian Healy has had an outstanding decade, just look at all the things he's won and the teams he's been involved with, but there is just such an obvious candidate for this."

"He didn't even get a mention," noted Ger of Sexton with a laugh. "It wasn't even up for consideration."

With the conversation broadening out into deciding upon the greatest rugby player of the decade worldwide, the question of Irish rugby's greatest talent in the 2010s remains.

You can listen back to the lads' chat about Irish rugby, the international selection and the logic behind their decisions here

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Andy Farrell Cian Healy Conor Murray Declan Kidney Ireland Irish Rugby Joe Schmidt Johnny Sexton Peter O'Mahony