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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.<\/p>\n
The 38-year-old surpassed former fly-half rival Ronan O\u2019Gara as his country\u2019s all-time leading scorer by moving on to 1,090 career points during Saturday\u2019s emphatic 59-16 win over Tonga.<\/p>\n
Sexton last week returned with a bang from almost six months on the sidelines to leapfrog O\u2019Gara as Ireland\u2019s top points scorer at the Rugby World Cup, in addition to becoming the oldest international to wear the green jersey.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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\u201cThe proof of whether I\u2019m in good form will be next Saturday,\u201d said Sexton, who will retire after the tournament. \u201cYou\u2019ve got to go and do it in the games.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s no point in saying you\u2019re 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019ve hit a great vein of form and it\u2019s going to be a huge challenge for us but one that we are really excited about and we feel we\u2019re ready for it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sexton claimed the fourth of Ireland\u2019s eight tries on a history-making evening in Nantes.<\/p>\n
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conversions and a penalty to add to the 24-point haul he managed in the curtain-raiser against Romania before being withdrawn at half-time.<\/p>\n
Bundee Aki\u2019s second-half double, in between scores from James Lowe and Rob Herring, helped seal Ireland\u2019s 15th successive win after Tadhg Beirne, Caelan Doris and Mack Hansen laid the foundations.<\/p>\n
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While Scotland will still hope to have a say, Ireland and South Africa lead the way in the group, with the eventual table-toppers likely to avoid hosts France and play New Zealand in the quarter-finals.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously we want to win the group,\u201d said Sexton. \u201cWe want to win every game. That\u2019s pretty clear.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you get through the group, it doesn\u2019t matter if you finish first or second, you won\u2019t have an easy game.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut we\u2019ll be going for the win next week and hopefully the game after (against Scotland) as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Andy Farrell\u2019s decision to name a strong starting XV at Stade de la Beaujoire was vindicated by a second successive bonus-point triumph from which his team emerged relatively unscathed.<\/p>\n
The head coach, who was upbeat about replacement prop Finlay Bealham\u2019s head injury assessment, hopes his players can move up gear in the capital in six days\u2019 time.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would hope we will be better because we\u2019ll certainly need to be when it gets to playing against a fantastic side in South Africa,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut two games under the belt is good for us. Hopefully that rolls on to to another level on the third week.<\/p>\n
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\u201cThis is what World Cups are all about, weeks that are coming against the reigning world champions.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt doesn\u2019t get any better and one thing\u2019s for sure, you know that the Irish (fans) are going to turn up and enjoy it as well. It\u2019s a fantastic week to look forward to.\u201d<\/p>\n