Sexton eyes 'huge challenge' from South Africa

Ireland captain Johnny Sexton will continue to let his performances do the talking after warming up for world champions South Africa with another record-breaking display.

The 38-year-old surpassed former fly-half rival Ronan O'Gara as his country's all-time leading scorer by moving on to 1,090 career points during Saturday's emphatic 59-16 win over Tonga.

Sexton last week returned with a bang from almost six months on the sidelines to leapfrog O'Gara as Ireland's top points scorer at the Rugby World Cup, in addition to becoming the oldest international to wear the green jersey.

His greatest challenge following his long-awaited comeback from injury and suspension undoubtedly lies ahead, with the tantalising Paris showdown against the Springboks likely to decide who tops Pool B.

"The proof of whether I'm in good form will be next Saturday," said Sexton, who will retire after the tournament. "You've got to go and do it in the games.

"There's no point in saying you're feeling good or whatever. I just take it day by day, make sure I recover well, turn up to training on Monday and Tuesday and try and put the plan in place to take on the reigning world champions.

"They've hit a great vein of form and it's going to be a huge challenge for us but one that we are really excited about and we feel we're ready for it."

Sexton claimed the fourth of Ireland's eight tries on a history-making evening in Nantes.

He also kicked four conversions and a penalty to add to the 24-point haul he managed in the curtain-raiser against Romania before being withdrawn at half-time.

Bundee Aki's second-half double, in between scores from James Lowe and Rob Herring, helped seal Ireland's 15th successive win after Tadhg Beirne, Caelan Doris and Mack Hansen laid