New Ireland rugby captain Johnny Sexton says he needs to manage his passion on the pitch as he leads the national team into the Six Nations.

Ireland begin their quest for glory against Scotland in Dublin on Saturday week.

Sexton replaced Rory Best as skipper after the World Cup, and it may be fair to say that at times his huge will to win and exacting standards reach a crescendo.

It's something the Leinster out-half is aware of: 

"In 2018, when things are going well, your demeanour is what makes a team win. When things are going bad, your demeanour is what makes a team lose. It's always in hindsight and it's always based on results. Of course, as captain, you have just got to be more wary of it, maybe a little bit. I don't mean to get like that sometimes, but when things aren't going well it obviously comes out more. When things are going great, obviously you are never going to see that, because obviously things are going great."

"It's important that I don't change too much, but I have got to get better. I have always tried to get better throughout my career. With leadership, I am always learning and Andy Farrell has met me over the last couple of weeks and given me some tips. Stuart Lancaster has been great in Leinster for me, sending me all sorts of podcasts and everything, Andy the same. I am trying to get better, and (leadership) is the same part as my game, just try to keep improving."

Johnny Sexton doesn't feel Ireland will have to pick themselves up in the Six Nations after the disappointment in Japan: 

"It doesn't feel too much like a World Cup hangover, because there's a lot of change. The guys that were there will obviously want to make amends. The real amends will be made in four years really, so we have got to just take this Championship as we take every Six Nations Championship. It;s hugely important and we just want to get off to a good start."

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