New Zealand Assistant Coach Commends Ireland’s Transition Without Sexton

Jason Holland, the assistant coach for New Zealand, has stated that Ireland has adapted “really well” to playing without Johnny Sexton in the fly-half position. This assessment comes as the two teams get ready to face each other again. The previous encounter between Ireland and the All Blacks marked Sexton’s final game before his retirement, a match where New Zealand emerged victorious in a thrilling World Cup quarter-final held in Paris last year. Since Sexton’s departure, Jack Crowley has been utilized at fly-half, and Ciaran Frawley delivered a standout performance during Ireland’s summer Test series against the Springboks in South Africa. Holland, a former Munster centre, commented on the situation before Friday’s game at Aviva Stadium, scheduled for 20:10 GMT. He stated, “They have a couple of young 10s who are really stepping up.” He further elaborated, “They’ve obviously been in the environment for a long time, in and out, but slotting into the way Ireland play and they understand what winning footy is when Ireland play winning footy.” Holland added that the team has “transitioned really well with some pretty senior guys around the 10 spot, with their 12s and 13s, and Jamo [Jamison Gibson-Park] at nine has been around a while.” He concluded, “Their transition has been pretty smooth from what we can see.” When questioned about what he perceives as Ireland’s primary strength, Holland responded, “I’ve enjoyed the way they are attacking. Some of the lines they run, some of their options at the line, multiple options, the way they play, I really enjoy that.” He also remarked, “And I suppose like any good Irish side they’re built on their work rate and their ability to go to war for each other, that hasn’t changed over the years, has it?” Holland spent a total of 13 years with Munster, serving nine years as a player and four as an assistant coach. However, he dismissed any prospect of him assuming the vacant head coach position after Graham Rowntree’s exit. He stated, “I’ve got a pretty awesome job at the moment, which I’m loving, so not at this stage.”