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Sexton's Six Nations worry as Leinster confirm out-half will miss Northampton game

Johnny Sexton is set for a scan on a knee injury. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Johnny Sexton has emerged as a doubt for Ireland’s Six Nations campaign after Leinster confirmed the out-half will not be available for this weekend’s Heineken Champions Cup game against Northampton Saints due to a knee injury.

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Sexton was forced off in Leinster’s 43-16 win at Franklin’s Gardens on Saturday after falling awkwardly while being tackled.

The province have confirmed that the 34-year-old will see a specialist today for a further scan on his knee.

The news will come as a concern for new Ireland head coach Andy Farrell, with the Six Nations just eight weeks away.

Farrell will take his first training camp as Ireland boss later this month, and Sexton’s fitness will be a chief concern, with Farrell also without the on-field experience of the recently retired Rory Best.

Joe Schmidt’s successor is in danger of being left light on out-half options, with Joey Carbery yet to feature for Munster this season having returned from the World Cup with an ankle problem.

Meanwhile, Leinster also confirmed that Joe Tomane will be out of action for six to eight weeks following a re-occurrence of a hamstring injury, and Rory O’Loughlin will also miss out at the Aviva Stadium this weekend as he rehabs a shoulder problem.

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James Ryan is going through the Graduated Return to Play protocols after being removed during Saturday’s defeat of Northampton with a head injury.

Watch: Chiefs hooker forced into early retirement

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M
MA 3 hours ago
How the four-team format will help the Wallabies defeat the Lions

In regards to Mack Hansen, Tuipoloto and others who talent wasnt 'seen'..

If we look at acting, soccer and cricket as examples, Hugh Jackman, the Heminsworths in acting; Keith Urban in Nashville, Mike Hussey and various cricketers who played in UK and made the Australian team; and many soccer players playing overseas.


My opinion is that perhaps the ' 'potential' or latent talent is there, but it's just below the surface.


ANd that decision, as made by Tane Edmed, Noah, Will Skelton to go overseas is the catalyst to activate the latent and bring it to the surface.


Based on my personal experience of leaving Oz and spending 14 months o/s, I was fully away from home and all usual support systems and past memories that reminded me of the past.


Ooverseas, they weren't there. I had t o survive, I could invent myself as who I wanted, and there was no one to blame but me.


It bought me alive, focused my efforts towards what I wanted and people largely accepted me for who I was and how I turned up.


So my suggestion is to make overseas scholarships for younger players and older too so they can benefit from the value offered by overseas coaching acumen, established systems, higher intensity competition which like the pressure that turns coal into diamonds, can produce more Skeltons, Arnold's, Kellaways and the like.


After the Lion's tour say, create 20 x $10,000 scholarships for players to travel and play overseas.


Set up a HECS style arrangement if necessary to recycle these funds ongoingly.


Ooverseas travel, like parenthood or difficult life situations brings out people's physical and emotional strengths in my own experiences, let's use it in rugby.

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