Sexton has brought 'real positivity' into coaching role

Defence coach Simon Easterby says former Ireland captain Johnny Sexton's return to the set-up as a consultancy coach has brought "real positivity" ahead of the autumn internationals.

Legendary fly-half Sexton retired after last year's World Cup but has been brought back to aid the current playing group's development.

While Sexton has not joined Andy Farrell's backroom team in an official role, Easterby says the Irish coaches are relishing the opportunity to tap into the 2018 World Player of the Year's expertise and experience.

"He has been involved, for a few days when we were in the HPC [High Performance Centre]," said Easterby, speaking from Ireland's warm-weather training camp in Portugal.

"He’s definitely going to be involved over the next few weeks, transitioning in and out, lending his support to certain individuals within the team."

Following Sexton's retirement, Jack Crowley was given the starting fly-half jersey for this year's Six Nations, while Leinster pair Ciaran Frawley and Sam Prendergast are also in the squad for the November Tests against New Zealand, Argentina, Fiji and Australia.

As a master of the out-half craft, Sexton will naturally work with the current 10s but Easterby says Ireland will "lean on him for other things" as well.

"I think Johnny obviously having retired recently still has his finger on the pulse in terms of playing in that position in particular, playing in the 10 role," added Easterby, who will take over as Ireland interim coach after the November series while Farrell is focused on leading the British and Irish Lions.

"[It is] understanding what we do as a team and trying to impart some of that experience that he’s had across the last few years and the way we play the game.

" And I know Jack Crowley’s obviously had time with us and so has Ciaran, Sam less so, but I think all those guys are like sponges.

"They want to learn and they want to understand, they want to get know-how and then go out and try and put those things into practice. Johnny will just be able to give them a bit of guidance at times."

While Ireland have not played since July's two-Test series in South Africa, which ended in a draw, New Zealand have played a Rugby Championship and will have further Tests against Japan and England under their belt by the time they arrive in Dublin.

Easterby, however, says Ireland's sizeable gap between fixtures will not be used as any kind of excuse as they bid to avenge last year's World Cup quarter-final loss to the southern hemisphere giants.

"We’ve always known that has been the case and that has always been our challenge whoever we play first up from the summer tour to now.

"It is a big break for us, but it is important we don’t use that as any type of excuse.

"We’re hitting the ground running, the lads have worked incredibly well so far to just shift their emphasis a little bit towards the national team, away from their provincial set-ups."