Six Nations 2023: Johnny Sexton insists he will be fit for Ireland's France game

Johnny Sexton had to go off in the second half of Ireland's win over Wales in Cardiff on Saturday

Ireland captain Johnny Sexton has insisted that there are no concerns over his fitness for Saturday's Six Nations contest against France.

Sexton, 37, came off in the second half of the opening 34-10 win over Wales and it was initially said that he had undergone a head injury assessment.

However Ireland coach Andy Farrell later stated that Sexton's issue had been a "slight dead leg".

"I'll be ready to go for 80 (minutes) this week if needed," said Sexton.

"I was happy in terms of how I felt physically at the weekend.

"Obviously the confusion around the HIA and stuff like that, it's nothing I can control."

The regular Monday fitness update on the Ireland team said that Sexton would "complete the HIA process later today" but the Ireland skipper said at Wednesday's team media briefing that he would be fit for Saturday's much-awaited contest in Dublin against last season's Grand Slam winners.

Sexton avoids more Wednesday woe

Sexton joked that he was relieved to still be on course to feature against the French after being ruled out on the Wednesday prior to the last two Six Nations battles against Les Blues.

"I can look forward to the game and hopefully no more hiccups."

Despite his advancing years and with a final World Cup appearance in the offing later this year, Sexton insisted that he continues to be "full-on" in every game that he plays for his country.

"I try and train every day. It matters. And come game day it doesn't matter how long you last you just go and empty the tank."

Sexton said he wasn't bothered by Romain Ntamack's comment that Ireland are "comfortably favourites" for Saturday's contest

Asked about Romain Ntamack's comment that the world's top-ranked Irish are "comfortably favourites" for Saturday's contest against the second-ranked French, Sexton replied: "It doesn't really bother me if that's what he says.

"It's not something we ever mention internally. We acknowledge being number one in the world, the public or the press will do this or the opposition will do it.

"Ultimately it comes down to the performance on the day. If we're favourites, we've favourites.

"They've had outstanding success with 14 games on the bounce unbeaten.

"Shaun Edwards isn't the head coach but a lot of what he did with Wales you can see it all over the team in terms of how they kick.

"They kick long. Power, real aggressive defence with some outstanding individuals littered through the team. They are the full package really. That's the message. We're going to have to beat at our very best to get a win."

'Something comes out of the woodwork'

Sexton laughed that "something usually comes out of the woodwork for me" in the build-up to Six Nations contest with France, as he appeared to allude to the 2021 saga when a doctor who worked with Ireland skipper during his time at Racing 92 speculated about the amount of concussions the fly-half had had in his career up to that point.

The French medic later apologised for his comments.

"So I'm expecting something latter in the week," smiled the Ireland skipper.

"But look, it's always a big game. I grew up in an era watching Ireland lose to France heavily so to then be involved or to see the first Irish teams beat them and then be part of teams beating them has been amazing.

"But you still have that memory of as a young kid of France coming and demolishing Ireland. You probably naturally feel like the underdog at my age. Probably the younger lads don't.

"It feels like a huge game and it is a huge game. There's no point in saying anything otherwise.

"You can't just come in here and say 'oh it's just another game' because it's not."