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Ex-Ireland head coach says Sexton threw Andy Farrell 'under the bus' with 'worst possible reaction'

(Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

A former Ireland head coach has accused Jonathan Sexton of throwing Andy Farrell under the bus with his reaction as he walked off the field in France on the weekend. Ireland fell to a 35 – 27 defeat to France, letting slip a decent chance at winning the Guinness Six Nations on points difference.

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Sexton angrily shook his head when he was substituted for Ross Byrne during Ireland’s defeat in the Guinness Six Nations decider.

It was a moment that has left a sour taste in the mouths of many within Irish rugby circles, some interpreting it as an act of disrespect to the coaching ticket and more generally unsupportive to Ireland’s endeavours.

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Sexton explains why he reacted the way he did:

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      Sexton explains why he reacted the way he did:

      Speaking after the game, Sexton defended his behaviour, saying: “I was very disappointed coming off, like everyone would be.

      “You’re losing the game and you’re coming off, so what would you like me to be doing? It was disappointment that we didn’t win the game.”

      Now former Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan has accused him of throwing Farrell under the bus.

      “You do not throw the coach under the bus, walking off the field,” said O’Sullivan, speaking on the RTE Rugby podcast.

      “First thing is I wouldn’t have substituted him… but that’s neither here nor there. That’s Andy Farrell’s call,” said O’Sullivan. “[Johnny’s] position is under scrutiny in terms of how he reacts to things.

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      “For me his reaction was the worst possible reaction. I get he was upset, I get he was annoyed.

      “But for the good of the team and to show leadership and captaincy, he has to bottle it up, it’s no big deal.

      “You go to the bench, you sit down, you give out to yourself and then after the game you go to Andy Farrell and say ‘I want to talk to you’.

      “You have your debate with Farrell, he explains his case and that’s how you do it.

      “You do not throw the coach under the bus, walking off the field.

      “He has to know better than that, he has to know that his reaction is going to be magnified and he has to know that by doing what he did he kind of undermined [replacement Ross Byrne], he undermined the team and he undermined the coach.

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      “He should apologise to Farrell.

      “It was an amazingly poor decision. I kind of think he knew what he was doing, I don’t think it was an accident and I think it has damaged his relationship now, whether we like it or not, with the team and with the coach.”

      Sexton, an intense figure, has been driving standards in Irish rugby on and off the pitch. He is known for his direct communication with his fellow teammates, although it earned him the nickname ‘The Rat’ at Leinster because of his fouls moods.

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      JW 52 minutes ago
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      Lol you need to shoot your editor for that headline, even I near skipped the article.


      France simply need to go to a league format for the Brennus, that will shave two weekends of pointless knockout rugby from their season and raise the competitions standards and mystique no end.


      The under age loophole is also a easy door to shut, just remove the lower age limit. WR simply never envisioned a day were teams would target people under the age of 17 or whatever it is now, but much like with Rassie and his use of subs bench, that day was obviously always going to come. I can’t remember how football does it, I think it’s the other way around with them, you can’t sign anyone younger than that but unions can’t stop 17 or 18 yo’s from leaving for a pro club if they want to. There is a transaction that takes place of a few hundred thousand for a normal average player. I’d prefer rugby to be stricter and just keep the union bodies signoff being required.


      What really was their problem with Kite and co leaving though? Do we really need a game dominated by Internationals? I even think WR’s proposed calendar might be a bit too much, with at minimum 12 top tier games being played in the World Championship. I think 10 to 12, maybe any one player playing 10 of those 12 is the best way to think of it, for every international team is max, so that they can allow their domestic comps to shine if they want, and other nations like Japan and Fiji can, even some of the home nations maybe, and fill out their calendar with extra tours if they like them as a way to make money. As it is RA don’t have as good a pathway system, so they could simply buy back those players if they turn good. Are they worried they’ll be less likely to? We wait for baited breath for the new season to be laid out in front of us by WR.

      It could impose sanctions on the Fédération Française de Rugby, but the body which runs the Top 14 and the ProD2, the Ligue Nationale de Rugby, is entirely independent.

      It’s not independent at all. The LNR is a body under, and commissioned by, the FFR (and Government control) to mediate the clubs. FFR can simply install a new club competition if they don’t listen, then you’d see whether the players want to stay at any club who doesn’t tow the line and move to the new competition, as they obviously wouldn’t fall under the auspice of world rugby. They would be rebels, which is fine in and upon itself, but they would isolate themselves from the rest of the game and would need to be OK with that. I have no doubt whatsoever that clubs would have to and want to fall in line to remain part of the EPCR and French rugby. Probably even the last thing they would want is to compete with another French domestic competition that has all the advantages they don’t.


      All those players would do good for a few seasons in France, especially the fringe ones, with thankfully zero risk of them being poached if they turn good. New Zealand had a turn at keeping all of it’s talent, and while it upticked the competitiveness of the Super Rugby teams into a total dominance of Australian and South African counterparts (who were suffering more heavily than most the other way at that stage), it didn’t have as positive an effect on the next step up as ensuring young talents development is not hindered does. Essentially NZR flooded the locate market with players but inevitably it didn’t think the local economy could sustain any more pro teams itself, so now we are seeing a normal amount of exodus for the availability of places again. Are Australia in exactly the same footing? I think so, finances where dicey for a while perhaps but I doubt they are putting money constraints on their contracting now. It’s purely about who leaves to open up opportunity.

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