Sean Fitzpatrick Says A Certain Irishman Has Played His Way Into Test Team

All Blacks legend Sean Fitzpatrick reckons Johnny Sexton has played his way into the Lions Test team after today’s performance.

Sexton struggled to find form in the first two games, with Owen Farrell shining, but he was given an opportunity to link up with the Englishman this morning due to an injury to Jonathan Davies and it worked.

The Sexton/Farrell combo is something that has been talked about for months leading up to the tour, and after seeing how well they combined in the Crusaders game, Fitzpatrick reckons they should be the Test partnership.

“Owen Farrell is world class. There is no doubt about but I think one of the players who played his way in, by chance, with the injuries to Stuart Hogg and Jonathan Davies, was Sexton,” Fitzpatrick told Sky Sports News HQ.

“I thought the two of them being in tandem made a difference in terms of the choices that the Lions had.

“We spoke about the kicking game not being used against the Blues where tonight it was used.

“I think with Sexton and Farrell, having those two options along with Conor Murray who kicked superbly in that first half especially, it made a difference.

“You need world-class players to beat the All Blacks and tonight we saw three world-class players in terms of Murray, Sexton and definitely Farrell.”