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Dublin - Jonathan Sexton is the new golden boy of Irish rugby and it was simply a question of time before he would be picked in place of the legendary Ronan O'Gara.
Nevertheless, the choice of Irish coach, Declan Kidney, was met with mixed reactions, although everyone is united in the fact that Sexton can be the 'X-factor" in Saturday's Test.
The 24-year-old flyhalf has long been earmarked as the torch-bearer of the future of Irish rugby and his debut against Fiji last week laid all suspicion to rest to whether he can add a new dimension.
At school (St. Mary's), he reached the Leinster schools team, in 2005 for Ireland in the under 21 World Cup played against Samoa, Canada and South Africa and in 2006 in the Six Nations series for under 21's.
He would later run out 49 times for Leinster and played 10 times for Ireland A before being selected to play against Fiji.
Kidney explained his selection as follows:
"I want to stipulate this about him, We know that Ronan is a world-class player, but what will happen if he is not there anymore. I am looking at the World Cup in 2011 in New Zealand and how we can grow the squad.
"This is my chance to test Jonathan on a much higher level. I must answer these questions before the start of the Six Nations in February and this Test against the world champions is my last chance to do that.
The big occasion does not scare Sexton at all.
His first step into the limelight was during the semi-final of the Heineken Cup match between Munster and Leinster at a packed Croke Park when he had to replace the injured Felipe Contepomi.
He did not just fill the boots of the world class Argentine, but also delivered a spectacular performance in the Heineken Cup Final against Leicester showing that he can deliver at the highest level.
The Irish captain, Brian O'Driscoll, has been playing with O'Gara for Ireland since 2000, accepts that Sexton's worth has to be measured elsewhere.
"Just as Declan said, Jonno (Sexton) was given a chance to test the waters against a weakened Fiji team. He took his chance and now awaits a much bigger step with the Springboks. This is his chance to show that he belongs at the highest level," said O'Driscoll.
The Irish captain denied that he was one of the players who was speculated not to have wanted to visit the Bok changing rooms for a beer after the British and Irish Lions series earlier this year.
"Oh no, I do not think that there are any hard feelings between the teams, As per normal, there will be a competitive line drawn between the players, but this is always the case when the Springboks play against Ireland. We have not forgotten what happened on the Lions tour. Now we wait for the huge challenge."
The coach also wants to test himself at a higher level.
Dublin - Jonathan Sexton is the new golden boy of Irish rugby and it was simply a question of time before he would be picked in place of the legendary Ronan O'Gara.
Nevertheless, the choice of Irish coach, Declan Kidney, was met with mixed reactions, although everyone is united in the fact that Sexton can be the 'X-factor" in Saturday's Test.
The 24-year-old flyhalf has long been earmarked as the torch-bearer of the future of Irish rugby and his debut against Fiji last week laid all suspicion to rest to whether he can add a new dimension.
At school (St. Mary's), he reached the Leinster schools team, in 2005 for Ireland in the under 21 World Cup played against Samoa, Canada and South Africa and in 2006 in the Six Nations series for under 21's.
He would later run out 49 times for Leinster and played 10 times for Ireland A before being selected to play against Fiji.
Kidney explained his selection as follows:
"I want to stipulate this about him, We know that Ronan is a world-class player, but what will happen if he is not there anymore. I am looking at the World Cup in 2011 in New Zealand and how we can grow the squad.
"This is my chance to test Jonathan on a much higher level. I must answer these questions before the start of the Six Nations in February and this Test against the world champions is my last chance to do that.
The big occasion does not scare Sexton at all.
His first step into the limelight was during the semi-final of the Heineken Cup match between Munster and Leinster at a packed Croke Park when he had to replace the injured Felipe Contepomi.
He did not just fill the boots of the world class Argentine, but also delivered a spectacular performance in the Heineken Cup Final against Leicester showing that he can deliver at the highest level.
The Irish captain, Brian O'Driscoll, has been playing with O'Gara for Ireland since 2000, accepts that Sexton's worth has to be measured elsewhere.
"Just as Declan said, Jonno (Sexton) was given a chance to test the waters against a weakened Fiji team. He took his chance and now awaits a much bigger step with the Springboks. This is his chance to show that he belongs at the highest level," said O'Driscoll.
The Irish captain denied that he was one of the players who was speculated not to have wanted to visit the Bok changing rooms for a beer after the British and Irish Lions series earlier this year.
"Oh no, I do not think that there are any hard feelings between the teams, As per normal, there will be a competitive line drawn between the players, but this is always the case when the Springboks play against Ireland. We have not forgotten what happened on the Lions tour. Now we wait for the huge challenge."
The coach also wants to test himself at a higher level.
