Why isnt Johnny Sexton playing for the British and Irish Lions in South Africa?
THE British and Irish Lions are heading to South Africa and they will be captained by an Irishman. Conor Murray will step into Alun Wyn Jones' shoes after the Welshman was ruled out with a shoulder injury, but the actual Ireland captain will be nowhere to be seen. 2 Johnny Sexton will play no part for the Lions this year Credit: PA  2 Sexton played for the Lions in 2013 and 2017 Credit: Sportsfile - Subscription  Experienced fly-half Johnny Sexton will be playing no part for the Warren Gatland's Lions side this summer. Johnny Sexton will not be playing for the Lions because he was not called up to the squad. And Warren Gatland suggested this was because of his injury problems. The Lions head coach said: "When we looked at where we were going in South Africa, probably the thing that kept coming back to us was Johnny's durability, and being able to put a string of matches together consecutively, and big matches. "He has been rested on a number of occasions and unfortunately that's possibly what swayed it for us in terms of us not having the confidence that he can get through what's going to be a tough, physical tour." Former Ireland team-mate Tommy Bowe also suggested the decision would have been taken due to Sexton's injury record. He said when the squad was named in May: "Even the likes of Dan Carter put out a Tweet last night saying how shocked he was that Johnny Sexton wasn't picked in the squad. "I felt that Warren Gatland would go for him ahead of Finn Russell. I think it helped that Finn Russell had Gregor Townsend and Steve Tandy - two of the Scottish coaches - on the selection panel, but I can see where they are coming from. Cant believe they left Sexton out. Must have been a tough call but they had some quality 10s to pick from https://t.co/UV3Udjhpo3  Dan Carter (@DanCarter) May 6, 2021  "But the thing is that Johnny's injury record over the last couple of months and maybe years just has not been good. "I know from that tour in 2009, particularly playing at altitude, it is relentless. The training is so difficult on your body. "Sometimes you might have to play on a Saturday, again on a Tuesday and maybe again on a Saturday on the bench potentially. "It's tough on the body, and with Johnny Sexton, somebody who struggles maybe to back up match after match or particularly training at the intensity that you'll have to at the Lions, I think that counted against him." Others have suggested Sexton can be hot-headed at times and that counted against him. The Irish fly-half fumed at being substituted in the Autumn Nations Cup and again in the Six Nations against Wales when he had to go off for a concussion examination. Gatland's teams are known for their composure under pressure with his captains always able to talk to the referee in a calm manner in order to understand the decisions made.