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Sexton and Farrell try to clear the air after messy fallout from Saturday night's infamous substitution

(Photo by Adam Davy/PA Images via Getty Images)

Johnny Sexton and Andy Farrell have moved to draw a line under last Saturday’s substitution controversy in France, Ireland skipper Sexton revealing he apologised on Sunday for his withering reaction while coach Farrell insisted his player’s conduct didn’t undermine him as head coach.

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Ireland’s title-ending defeat to the French had gotten lost in recent days due to the huge commentary on the captain-coach incident. Sexton has been roundly criticised for how he angrily looked up towards the coaches box after he was taken off at the Stade de France with ten minutes remaining.

Former Ireland captains Brian O’Driscoll and Keith Wood, along with ex-coach Eddie O’Sullivan, said it wasn’t a good look for Sexton and the current skipper took steps to try and put the controversy to bed on Thursday, appearing at a virtual media conference along with Farrell to insist the air has been cleared ahead of the Autumn Nations Cup campaign.

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Johnny Sexton’s post-match media conference last Saturday night in Paris

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Johnny Sexton’s post-match media conference last Saturday night in Paris

Farrell initially said his piece separate to Sexton, suggesting what had happened had not undermined him as Ireland coach. Then Sexton came to the pulpit and gave his updated take on the fallout of a messy situation.

“Yeah, disappointed in myself with the reaction to a certain extent,” said Sexton. “Obviously if I had known the stories it was going to create and the way that it has been perceived I wouldn’t have done it.

“But you have to take it from my point of view – it’s in the heat of the moment, it’s up there with the biggest games I have played in as captain and yeah, it’s a low point. I reacted in a bad way for a split second and that’s it’s really. That’s all I can say really.

“I spoke to Andy after the game, I spoke to him on Sunday when I realised there was such a big thing and we sorted things out. I apologised and said look it shouldn’t have happened but it did. It was a split second and I let myself down in that regard.

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“You learn and you move on. I suppose it’s not the first apology I have made in my career and it won’t be the last probably. We’ll move on. Thankfully we have got a good relationship and there are no problems going forward.

“If someone said you are on the big screen, you’re not going to do it,” he continued. “Yeah, if I had time to think about it I wouldn’t have done it but you’re in the heat of battle, you’re playing an international, it means a lot to you, you’re captain of the team and you’re disappointed in the performance as much as anything.

“Ultimately the team’s performance is down to, I have got to make sure the lads are in a better place to do what they are meant to do. There is as much disappointment in the situation as there is in the substitution.

“The other thing as well, I need to dead bat it and just walk off. I am who I am and like I said, I have apologised to the people that matter but I’m not going to sit here and sort of apologise to the whole world. It was a split second thing, a split-second decision I wish I didn’t make but I did.

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“I love being captain. It’s a huge honour. When Andy asked me to do it, it was one of the biggest honours in my career, the biggest probably, and I’m incredibly proud to do it. I am trying to get better in the role…

“I have reacted worse coming off before when I was not captain at the time. Is it okay for players to do that? No, it’s not okay for players to do that but at the same time, it’s a split reaction, a one-second thing. Normally the cameras go the player that comes on not the player that comes off but my French ‘friends’ wanted to gather my reaction.”

Earlier, Farrell had said his piece on the controversy that has dominated Irish rugby since the weekend. “No, I don’t (think it undermined me). Johnny is a passionate guy and it’s the reason we all love him as a player for how long he has been at the top of the Irish game.

“I suppose there is always a bit of learning from every game that you play but no, I don’t feel undermined and neither do the team. We need Johnny to be himself… you are not going to change overnight a person that has been at the top doing what he has done because of the intent and the attitude that he has got.

“Me and Johnny are always talking. We speak most days and it’s always something that is ongoing. We have conversations constantly to see where we both are. Do I feel like I need to talk to him? We always have discussions. We spoke quite a number of times before today (Thursday). In fact, the last time was five minutes ago. We constantly talk about how things are going with the group.

“Of course, we always discuss everything that goes on. We’re discussing his individual game and his captaincy etc, so we are always learning together. 100 per cent (it has been overblown). The last thing that I want to do to Johnny is stop him being himself as well or else we all suffer, don’t we?”

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ England need to face a few home truths if they are to relearn that winning habit England need to face a few home truths if they are to relearn that winning habit
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