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All Black Rieko Ioane stirs Irish pot again with post-win jibe
By Finn Morton
Midfielder Rieko Ioane has thrown a not-so-subtle jab at former Ireland captain Johnny Sexton after the All Blacks’ 23-13 win in Dublin on Friday night. Ioane played the entire 80 minutes as the New Zealanders recorded their first win at the Aviva Stadium in eight years.
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Ioane and the All Blacks hadn’t played Ireland since last year’s thrilling quarter-final at Stade de France, which the New Zealanders won 28-24. That brought an end to Irish dreams of World Cup glory, and so too did the decorated rugby career of flyhalf Johnny Sexton.
That match was tense and nerve-wracking, and the drama didn’t stop at full-time as Sexton recently revealed. In his autobiography, the former Ireland skipper alleged Ioane had said, “Don’t miss your flight home tomorrow. Enjoy retirement, you c**t.”
It was a war of words that made headlines worldwide. Ioane hit back shortly after by sharing a picture of the pair, with the All Black positioning a joker card emoji above his head, a house emoji below Sexton, and accompanying the post with Zombie by The Cranberries.
Irish rugby writer Gerry Thornley said on SENZ before this week’s Test that, “Ioane is going to be the pantomime villain to end all pantomime villains.” There was always going to be an extra sense of feeling about this Test which already had the makings of a blockbuster battle.
With the All Blacks knocking Ireland off the top of the world rankings with a 10-point win, Ioane was interviewed post-game where he said, “Feelings were hurt, stuff was said but I’m just here to play footy and win games.” But soon after, Ioane had the last word.
“Put that in the book,” Ioane wrote on Instagram, with the joker card used once again to accompany this caption. The first picture on the carousel is Ioane standing above the All Blacks as he leads the haka, with the Irish standing opposite as they accepted the challenge.
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That was the first time Ioane had led the All Blacks’ haka.
“I was obviously more nervous for the kaea role and leading that haka than I was about the game,” Ioane said on Sky Sport New Zealand’s post-match coverage.
“With such great leaders like TJ (Perenara), Codie (Taylor) to help me out, it came pretty comfortable and pretty easy tonight.
“… When it comes to game days, I don’t let the emotion dictate my week. I love the spectacle of rugby and what I can influence to create.
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“Feelings were hurt, stuff was said but I’m just here to play footy and win games.”
Flyhalf Jack Crowley opened the scoring in the seventh minute with a penalty goal, but the visitors struck back through Damian McKenzie. The All Black knocked over three penalties from as many attempts, but then disaster struck as momentum swung in Ireland’s favour.
Jordie Barrett was sent to the sin bin in the 39th minute, and Ireland responded by scoring 10 unanswered points, including a try to Josh van der Flier early in the second term. The Irish looked good on attack soon after, but their efforts were in vain.
McKenzie was instead next on the board, with the first five-eighth converting another three penalties before Will Jordan crossed for a decisive try. New Zealand’s defensive wall stood tall as they came home with a well-earned win.
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Hence the ‘not weak in a physical sense’ bit.
Sledging during a match is allowed. Abusing players after a final whistle is just being a fvcking scvmbag, confirmed when you don't apologize and do it again.
Youre arrogant and entitled. Different rules for New Zealand.
This macho hard man attitude of Kiwis is hilarious. I've got all sorts of threats from guys here who I know I would kick up and down the street if I met. Do you all think you are hard men because you have a successful rugby team. Get to fvck!!🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡
You might beat us in a rugby match. You wont beat us in a fight. SA discovered that in Durban after the cheap shot on Casey the week before.
The prevailing sentiment here is that if you’re going to dish it out then you gotta take it, and Rieko did it better than Johnny did.
Anyone moaning about sexton can harden up, wherever they’re from.
World Rugby considers Rieko's actions re Irish crowd disrespectful and abuse. They consider Sextons actions re Peyper disrespectful and abuse. Literally the same misconduct rule.
You are calling most Kiwis weak in character and resolve as they count Sexton's actions as disrespect. You can't have it both ways. As I said. You Kiwis are entitled.
Irish fans behaved brilliantly like Irish fans do. They gave Ioane a break. And then the scumb@g goes and insults on Instagram when he is safely aware from the Aviva. A true coward and scumb@g
What insult? Ioane is extremely proud of being chosen to lead the Haka. If little crappy jonny had led a Haka it would be in his book but he didnt even lead a winning team at a WC. Sexton is the perfect example of an Irish boofhead.
The fans booed Ioane and yelled rubbish at the ABs while they were warming up and even yelled crap at John Kirwan who was presenting on the sideline. I don't GAF about that but you should include commentary on how 'they behaved brilliantly' in your next stand-up routine.
Well you’ll know better for next time, won’t you. Probably should have taught him a lesson when you had the chance.
How did they give him a break exactly? Pretty sure I heard plenty of jeers and boos directed his way. I guess he was too busy celebrating his win at the Aviva to post on Instrgram.
Rugbypass headline writer trying the controversy angle. Cute
Ioane should show some dignity and just drop it. He had the last word at the RWC, time to live up to one of rugby's key values - respect.
Now that he has gotten his last word re Sexton's book I think that'll be all now
Rugby needs characters Reiko. It just never needed Sexton.
This isn't character, it's shameful. Reiko is an average player in an average team. It was a fair result yesterday because Ireland had their worst game for about 8 years, but the lack of dignity from this clown is embarrassing. I'd be ashamed of him if he played for my club or country. But as Sexton said, the no d*ckheads policy which NZ used to have is clearly a thing of the past. It's easy to have that policy when they were world beaters, but they're pretty mediocre now and lucky to have caught both Ireland and England cold. Now would be the time to show character by keeping that policy, but clearly with the likes of this d*ckhead they have not kept it.
Greatest Ireland player ever. Ioane shows no respect for beaten opponents. He is a coward. He is scvm.
What's happened to the the All Blacks not scoring in the last quarter, or Damian McKenzie is shite comments.
Continuity and consistency for a victory well deserved.
Go the All Blacks... Roosters are next on the menu... onwards and upwards...
So where was the pot stir? I believe he spent 20 mins doing Selfies with the Irish fans.
The Irish fans gave him a break. Then he acted like the coward he is by stirring it on instagram when he was safely away from the Aviva. He is scvm.
Yeah, only pot being stirred was Sexton's.
Had an excellent game, anybody who says he didn't do anything doesn't know rugby.
The Irish fans gave him a break and then he stirred it on Instagram when safely away from Aviva. Coward.