Cheika full of Sexton praise
May 25 2009
Michael Cheika has described Heineken Cup hero Johnny Sexton as the epitome of everything he is trying to achieve at Leinster.
Fly-half Sexton, 23, showed maturity beyond his years to boot 11 points on Saturday as Cheika's side became European champions for the first time by beating Leicester 19-16 at Murrayfield.
The youngster's kicking out of hand was also exemplary, while the drop-goal he scored from inside his own half highlighted his burgeoning talent.
Sexton would probably not have been playing had Felipe Contepomi not suffered a serious injury in the semi-final win over Munster but he has taken his big chance.
Head coach Cheika, who took charge in 2005, said: "He's almost the first generation coming out of the academy since I got here.
"I suppose it epitomises the club a little bit, the way that fellow's come through.
"He's going to have down days again after this and it's just a matter of him understanding what it takes to be a better player every time."
Those sentiments were echoed by captain Leo Cullen, who said: "I think he shows real maturity. He puts a lot of work into his game and he's hungry for it.
"He's had to bide his time maybe a little bit longer that he would have liked.
"Any time he's come into the fold, his level of commitment and his will to win for the team is second to none.
"He really bosses a team and that's what you want in a 10."
Cullen lifted the Heineken Cup on Saturday alongside veteran scrum-half Chris Whitaker, who has endured his fair share of criticism in recent times.
But Cheika is in no doubt of the 34-year-old former Australia international's importance to the Leinster cause.
He said: "Whitaker has been an integral part of the culture that we want to build: lots of humility, lots of hard work, lots of effort, and the ability to bounce back from adversity.
"He was getting very heavily criticised. Those things are a bit like the flu: once one person starts, every gets it.
"He really felt it and I can't pay enough accolade to that player for the way he stood by himself, believed in himself.
"No-one in that team would have begrudged him being up there (lifting the trophy) because they know how much of a team player he is."
Another old head on show on Saturday was Leicester's Ben Kay, who could be forgiven for getting over such an agonising defeat more quickly than most.
Not a bit of it.
"It hurts more than ever and, as you get on a bit, I suppose, you think you haven't got as many chances left," said the 33-year-old lock, who has won the World Cup with England as well as back-to-back Heineken Cups with the Tigers.
"When you're playing, you live in the moment and you never think about what you've achieved or what you've won in the past.
"One of the hardest things about losing in the Heineken final is you can win the league, you can have a good season, and then you've got three months to dwell on what's just happened out there."
He added: "We're going to have to work just as hard next year - if not harder - to get ourselves into the final.
"We've got a good mix of experienced players, who know what it takes, and young players, who haven't got a clue - but who drive the older players with their youthful enthusiasm."