Test debut fulfils dream for Sexton

Video

• Sexton To Debut Against Fiji: Justin Treacy gets the view from the Irish camp as the team to face Fiji is announced.

Audio

• Brian O'Driscoll: Brian O'Driscoll tells RTÉ's Michael Corcoran about the challenge of playing Fiji, the injury to Luke Fitzgerald and Keith Earls being the only Munster based player in an all Leinster backline.
• Declan Kidney: Irish coach Declan Kidney talks to Michael Corcoran about the difficulty of picking the team and some of the changes made plus Ronan O'Gara not making the match 22.
• Tom Court: Tom Court speaks about his disappointment at not playing against his native Australia last week, looks forward to the Fiji game and details his sporting career from Australia University Shot Putt champion to International rugby player
• Leo Cullen: Leo Cullen is delighted at his inclusion to play Fiji, and is looking forward to taking his chance.
• Gordon D'Arcy: Gordon D'Arcy speaks about the disappointment of not being in the team last week, and having to take your opportunity when it comes.
• Rob Kearney: Rob Kearney talks about playing matches back to back within a 6 day period, and the importance of maintaining structure this week and not trying to play a sevens style game.

<notforsyndication>Watch live coverage of Ireland v Fiji and Wales on RTÉ Two and RTÉ.ie (Island of Ireland) from 2.00pm on Saturday, 21 November. Listen to live coverage of Ireland v Fiji on RTÉ Radio 1 FM & LW252 (2.00-5.58pm) and on LW 252, DAB and RTÉ.ie (5.58-7.30pm).</notforsyndication>

Jonathan Sexton will be seeking to prove Ireland have a genuine alternative to Ronan O'Gara when he makes his Test debut against Fiji on Saturday.

Sexton replaces O'Gara, who drops out of the squad, at fly-half as one of eight changes to the side which drew 20-20 with Australia.

It is reward for the 24-year-old's sparkling provincial form which reached its zenith during the closing stages of Leinster's march to their first Heineken Cup crown last season.

Initially considered third-choice fly-half, he showed remarkable maturity when a knee injury to Felipe Contepomi saw him pitched into action early on in the semi-final against Munster.

A similar display against Leicester in the final and a solid start to the current campaign has convinced national coach Declan Kidney he is ready to be promoted from the bench.

Sexton will have the luxury of appearing in a virtually all-Leinster back line - Munster winger Keith Earls breaks their monopoly - and is delighted to realise his boyhood dream.

‘This is a very proud moment for me and my family. This is different to winning the Heineken Cup, which is a team thing,’ he said.

‘Getting selected by Ireland is a personal thing but is something I've wanted since I was a kid.

‘I've focused on not trying as hard to make things happen. I was trying too hard at the start of last year.

‘I've relaxed a bit and I'm not concentrating on the mistakes I make. I have a more positive outlook.’

Sexton has been the subject of a growing clamour demanding his Test inclusion as Ireland acknowledge time is running out to uncover O'Gara's successor.

O'Gara's dominance of the number 10 shirt has been so complete that until Sexton's emergence as a credible option during the last six months, the position has been damned by a critical lack of depth.

Munster's long-serving Lion will be 34 by the next World Cup so Sexton's development is crucial, but his Leinster and Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll is confident he will make a smooth transition.

‘Jonathan is a very talented player but also has a strong work ethic. He puts a lot of thought into his game,’ said O'Driscoll.

‘He does a lot of background work and we knock him for having an encyclopaedic knowledge of games we've been involved in. He can recall crazy things!

‘It's been a huge six months for him, coming in at the semi-final of the Heineken Cup and controlling things the way he did.

‘Then he gave a big performance in the final. This year he has been very solid and controls things well.

‘With every game he's getting better and he has a great future in Irish rugby.’

Earls, who replaces the injured Luke Fitzgerald, is the only non-Leinster representative in the back line with Gordon D'Arcy, Shane Horgan and Eoin Reddan recalled.

D'Arcy deputises for Paddy Wallace at inside centre, Horgan comes in for Tommy Bowe on the right wing and Reddan is given the nod ahead of Tomas O'Leary at scrum-half.

O'Driscoll, who celebrated his 100th Test appearance with the match-saving try against Australia, will captain the team for the 58th time.

Ulster's Tom Court starts ahead of Cian Healy at loosehead prop while Leo Cullen partners Paul O'Connell in the second row with Donncha O'Callaghan dropping to the bench.

The final change sees Denis Leamy displace Munster colleague David Wallace at openside.

Healy is nursing a shoulder injury but should be available to face South Africa a week on Saturday.