Only Rory Best and Rob Kearney remain from the last Ireland squad to win the grand slam, in 2009. Best was the backup hooker to Jerry Flannery, while Kearney was the starting fullback in all five matches.

But on the periphery was Sexton. The fly-half made his Irish debut eight months later but was part of that Six Nations squad to learn the ropes and be a practice opponent.

He’s determined he doesn’t squander this rare shot at a grand slam.

“You’ve got to take these opportunities with both hands when they come,” he said.

“(Coach) Declan Kidney said I was just as much a part of it as everyone else back in 2009 when I was in the bibs. I definitely didn’t feel that way.

“Around those times, Paul O’Connell, Brian O’Driscoll, Ronan O’Gara ... they’d been trying to achieve that for 10 years. You could tell by their speeches and their actions that season how much it meant to them.

“It’s very similar now: I know Rory is desperate for a grand slam because he feels he would be a bigger part of it than he played back then.”

Ireland wouldn’t have a grand slam shot against England next weekend if Sexton hadn’t kicked a 45-meter dropped goal in the 83rd minute to beat France 15-13 in Paris in the opening round.

He’s been integral to all three of Ireland’s championships since the 2009 grand slam, and knows how hard they are to come by.

“The young guys probably think they are going to get a lot of opportunities but it doesn’t work like that,” he said.

“I remember playing Scotland in Croke Park for a triple crown (in 2010) and almost taking it for granted – and I still haven’t won a triple crown.”