FORMER IRELAND PLAYER Stephen Ferris believes that the upcoming tour to New Zealand could be the perfect chance to find a replacement for Johnny Sexton.
Sexton recently signed a new deal with the IRFU until the end of the next World Cup in France in 2023.
Ireland's captain will not last forever and at 37 years of age Ferris knows that the tour could the perfect chance to find the Leinster man's successor.
So maybe it's the perfect opportunity not to play Johnny in any of the Test matches and see what the other guys are like', he said
"If Johnny plays in all three Tests, before you know it, you're into the Autumn internationals and the World Cup is less than a year away and you're still asking the question, who's going to be the next Johnny Sexton?
"Let’s start James Hume alongside Johnny Sexton and Bundee Aki, with James Lowe on the wing and Hugo Keenan at full-back and see if he can fit in there." - @StephenFerris6 on NZvIRE options #RTERugby https://t.co/5dO6Xkl8Y5 pic.twitter.com/B4f2jYFZ2P — RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) June 23, 2022
The 36-year-old also thinks that playing Sexton in all three of the games against New Zealand won't solve the problem but admitted there was no quick-fire answer to Irelands out half problem.
Munster's Joey Carbery, Leinster's Ross Byrne and Harry Byrne all play the same role, but not to the same effect and standards that Sexton has set for Ireland
"It still baffles me that everyone is still hanging their hat on Johnny Sexton being fit for a World Cup in 2023 and if Ireland don't have Johnny Sexton for that, then they're never going to win it', the former Ulster player said
"That's how everybody feels.
"If we don't find that out in the next five weeks, then you're hanging your hat on Johnny Sexton for the World Cup."
'Ireland 2022 Summer Tour Fixtures
Māori All Blacks v IRELAND
FMG Stadium, Hamilton, Wednesday 29th June 2022 (KO: 8.05am)
New Zealand v IRELAND
Eden Park, Auckland, Saturday 2nd July 2022 (KO: 8.05am)
New Zealand v IRELAND
Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin, Saturday 9th July 2022 (KO: 8.05am)
Māori All Blacks v IRELAND
SKY Stadium, Wellington, Tuesday 12th July 2022 (KO: 8.05am)
New Zealand v IRELAND
SKY Stadium, Wellington, Saturday 16th July 2022 (KO: 8.05am)
