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Johnny Sexton reflects on his career after Ireland’s devastating World Cup exit

By PA
Johnny Sexton shakes hands with Beauden Barrett - PA

Teary-eyed Ireland captain Johnny Sexton reflected on a “gutting” end to his glittering career following a heartbreaking World Cup exit at the hands of New Zealand.

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Andy Farrell’s class of 2023 were bidding to make history in Paris by becoming the first Irish team to reach the last four of the tournament.

But the world’s top-ranked team trailed for most of an enthralling contest before falling agonisingly short as their quarter-final curse continued with a 28-24 loss.

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      Veteran fly-half Sexton, who travelled to France with ambitions of lifting the Webb Ellis Cup before retirement, tipped his team-mates to come back stronger in his absence during an emotional post-match press conference.

      “The last couple of years have definitely been, in a green jersey anyway, the most enjoyable of my career. Definitely,” said Sexton.

      “The group, the way Faz (Farrell) leads us with the other coaches, everyone runs into camp and never wants to leave.

      “It’s an incredible place to be and that’s what I’ll miss the most. Going to work every day with those guys, but I’m just grateful as well.

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      “You can’t be 38 and sit here giving out too much. I’ve had lots of ups and downs in my career, lots of injuries, so I’ll probably reflect more over the next couple of weeks, take time off and spend it with my family and see what happens.”

      Sexton, the 2018 world player of the year, bows out with 117 caps and 1,108 points, having surpassed Ronan O’Gara as Ireland’s record scorer earlier in the competition.

      Speaking of the defeat, he said: “It’s gutting, isn’t it? It’s small margins and that’s sport. That’s life. It’s unfortunate, but this group will bounce back.

      “They are an incredible bunch led by the man beside me (Farrell). It’s the best group I have ever been a part of. Bar none.

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      “These guys will go on and achieve great things and I’ll be sitting in the stand having a pint like you lads.”

      Scores from native Kiwis Bundee Aki and Jamison Gibson-Park and a penalty try helped keep Ireland within touching distance for the duration of a tense encounter.

      However, three-time champions New Zealand underlined their rugby pedigree, with Leicester Fainga’anuku, Ardie Savea and Will Jordan each crossing to pave the way for a nail-biting triumph.

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      Head coach Farrell revealed veteran wing Keith Earls will also retire as the curtain came down on the current era.

      “The standards have been immense over the last four years, the players that we’ve used in that four-year cycle have been a joy to work with,” he said.

      “And not just that, their connection with the fans, it seemed like it’s all one big family.

      “I’m unbelievably proud to be associated with it all. I think the sad thing for us now is that for this group it’s probably the end.

      “Obviously it is for Johnny and Keith Earls is going to retire as well, so things are going to change. Mick Kearney our manager is going to finish up as well.

      Johnny Sexton <a href=
      All Blacks” width=”1012″ height=”546″ /> New Zealand’s hooker Dane Coles (L) shakes hands with Ireland’s fly-half Jonathan Sexton (*R) after the France 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter-final match between Ireland and New Zealand at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, on the outskirts of Paris, on October 14, 2023. (Photo by Emmanuel Dunand / AFP) (Photo by EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP via Getty Images)

      “Over the next 24 hours, it’s time to make sure that we get a smile back on our faces as soon as we possibly can and celebrate what has been some unbelievable careers and what they have done for Irish rugby. It’s important to us, that.”

      Ireland desperately pushed for a late twist to prolong their campaign and 17-match winning run but ultimately ran out of steam to suffer a first defeat since the opening match of last summer’s stunning Test series victory in New Zealand.

      It could have been a different outcome had replacement hooker Ronan Kelleher not been held up on the line 10 minutes from time.

      “Ifs, buts and maybes and all that,” said Farrell. “But at the end of the day it was two good teams out there playing some outstanding rugby, and unfortunately for us we came out on the wrong side of the score.

      “Sport can be cruel sometimes I suppose, that’s why we love it so much.

      “We want to congratulate New Zealand on a fantastic performance, it was a fantastic game to be part of, it was probably fitting of a final.”

      New Zealand, who had Aaron Smith and Codie Taylor sin-binned, will face Argentina in the semi-finals.

      All Blacks head coach Ian Foster: “This is a special day for us. Sometimes the sweetest victories are when your opposition plays very well and tests you to the limit.

      “At the end of the day, we played a lot of that game with 14 players. And we looked in control of it and it felt good.”

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      Comments

      7 Comments
      B
      Bob Marler 537 days ago

      A superb career. Absolutely sublime. Legendary player.

      Blighted with Brain sharts and epic unsportsmanlike conduct.

      “Johnny Sexton is like a shit stain on the mattress. Hard to ignore or be positive about”.

      T
      Turlough 538 days ago

      Giant of a player for Leinster and Ireland. Major positive force for youth development and wellbeing in Ireland off it.
      I hope the IRFU make sure his knowledge and expertise are absorbed by the underage system.
      His ability to adapt on the fly was a hall mark of his later career. Managed to change Ireland’s attack slightly when SA rushed passing spaces not players. NZ had based their own defense lastly on Ireland since the series loss in ‘22. Saving Ireland yesterday was beyond him.
      Thanks Johnny for the huge contribution to Irish rugby. Irish Legend!

      J
      Jérémie 538 days ago

      Can’t say I fell sad 😊

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      fl 2 hours ago
      Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

      “A succession of recent ex-players going straight back into the game as coaches in their early 40’s would prob be enough to kill it stone-dead. Innovation would die a death.”

      Would it? I do think one of the major differences between rugby and most other sports - which we’ve been overlooking - is the degree to which players are expected to lead team meetings & analysis sessions and the like. Someone like Owen Farrell has basically been an assistant coach already for ten years - and he’s been so under a variety of different head coaches with different expectations and playing styles.


      “The most interesting ppl I have met in the game have all coached well into their sixties and they value the time and opportunity they have had to reflect and therefore innovate in the game. That’s based on their ability to compare and contrast between multiple eras.”

      I don’t doubt that that’s true. But having interesting insights doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be the best able to inspire a team, or the best at managing the backroom staff.


      “Wayne Smith winning the WWC in his mid sixties three years ago prob means nothing to you but it meant a lot to him. It took him back to the roots of is own coaching journey.”

      I don’t doubt that! But I don’t think coaches should be hired on the basis that it means a lot to them.


      “The likes of Carlo Ancelotti and Wayne Bennett and Andy Reid all have a tale to tell. You should open your ears and listen to it!”

      I agree! Never have I ever suggested otherwise!

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