Jonathan Sexton says the Ireland squad have figured out what they're about as another Six Nations campaign looms into view. 

Just fourteen weeks after the 2020 campaign ended in disappointment in Paris, Ireland start again away to Wales on Sunday-week.

The Ireland captain has had plenty of time to reflect on a "split-second" that followed him around for weeks after the 35-27 loss to France.

Sexton appeared visibly angry when replaced by Ross Byrne in the second half at the Stade de France.

Public apologies followed as his predecessors claimed it was "a bad look".

"A lot was made after the French game - and rightly so - it was a bad reaction," Sexton said in an exclusive interview with Off The Ball.

"And something I wouldn't have done obviously if I had that split-second back, but like I said it's a split-second thing.

"I looked up at the big screen to see the score and the time on the clock and I was angry with the way we'd played in the second half... angry with some of the decisions etc.

"It was a split-second thing. Normally you wouldn't expect the camera to be on you at that stage, and if I'd known the craziness that was going to come after it I obviously wouldn't have done it.

"Look, you live and learn. You'd think at my age you'd have more experience to do that, but when it means a lot to you and you care about the team, and you care about winning, it can get on top of you.

"I apologised, obviously, at the time - a lot was made of that as well - but you learn your lessons the hard way sometimes."

Asked if the captaincy magnified the response to his reaction, the 35-year old replied, "And rightly so - that's the responsibility that goes with it. I suppose I'm defending myself a little bit by saying it was a split-second thing.

"It wasn't like it carried on into the dressing room or into the stands, or anything like that. It was very much a disappointment in myself as much as anything.

"It wasn't aimed at anyone or anything in particular - it was a mixture of things.

"But, as a captain, you need to be better than that and you can't do that. It was lesson learned."

Looking, learning, moving on - and crucially - set to be fit for the start of the 2021 Six Nations in Cardiff.

Sexton was withdrawn from Leinster's Guinness PRO14 win away to Munster last weekend with a minor hamstring issue.

He told Off The Ball on Friday night that had he stayed on longer, he'd have likely missed next week's game with Wales.

"I trained mainly with the physios over the last couple of days," he said, "Just making sure that everything's all good.

"Like I said at the Six Nations launch, it was more of a scare.

"It was probably, I nearly had an injury - a little strain, as such. [I] just felt it on acceleration.

"I knew myself - to avoid a 6-8 week injury - you've just got to bite the bullet and come off, as much as I didn't want to.

"So hopefully now, [I'll] train fully Sunday and on into next week. Hopefully [we'll] get the campaign off to a good start.

"This group are looking forward to getting back out there. I suppose, we had a good November from our point of view - in terms of the clarity we got in our game.

"We've added Paul O'Connell into the coaching team, who's already had a good impact on the group over the last couple of days.

"We've figured out what we're about, and hopefully now we can put some performances and results out there so people can see that."

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