Henshaw backing Sexton to avoid rust after suspension

Robbie Henshaw says he has full faith that Johnny Sexton will be able to hit the ground running at the Rugby World Cup, despite a near six-month layoff.

The Ireland captain won't be available for the three warm-up games against Italy, England and Samoa after picking up a suspension for being "confrontational and aggressive" towards referee Jaco Peyper and his fellow officials in the aftermath of Leinster's Champions Cup final defeat to La Rochelle in May.

Combined with the groin injury which has kept him sidelined since mid-March, the 38-year-old will return for Ireland's opening Rugby World Cup game against Romania on 9 September with no time to get up to speed.

"I'd back him all day to be honest to step into a game," Henshaw said.

"He’s been training the house down. I know it’s not full contact when we’re training but he hasn’t lost that sharpness, that vision or his kicking.

"He’s been exceptional in training, leading the group so I suppose the only thing for a player coming back from a long-term injury is the contacts, that full contact, so I suppose over the next few weeks he’ll get a taste for that, doing his extra bits, and get used to that. That’s the main thing when you’re coming back, that full-on, 100% contact."

Sexton's suspension was only confirmed last Sunday, close to two months on from the Champions Cup final.

And while the process took a long time, Henshaw says it hasn't been a distraction in camp.

"We knew it was going on in the background. Nobody had an idea of what was going to come of it.

"I think everyone was on the same page. Luckily we had our hands full with training and meetings so it was always going on in the background. Thankfully nobody got too distracted by it.

"It's unfortunate that Johnny won’t be