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Johnny Sexton: 'So much for their humility'
Johnny Sexton has defended his outburst towards Rieko Ioane after Ireland’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final defeat to New Zealand in his new book Obsessed – The Autobiography of Johnny Sexton.
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In the book, Sexton lifts the lid on his angry reaction, stating it was in response to Ioane’s own x-rated remark to the crestfallen Ireland fly-half at full-time. Ireland went into the 2023 World Cup ranked No.1 in the world and beat South Africa in the group stage before losing to New Zealand in the quarter-finals.
The Sunday Times published extracts from the book this weekend, detailing the aftermath of the defeat and Sexton’s view of the incident.
“I couldn’t bring myself to watch the quarter-final back. I don’t think I ever will. I don’t need to. I’ve mentally replayed every second, over and over. It finishes the same way every time. Rónan Kelleher still ploughs into Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock. Whitelock goes in for the poach, clearly without releasing, but somehow Wayne Barnes awards him the penalty, even though it has all happened under his nose — and it’s all over.
“And as I stand there, hands on hips, staring in disbelief at Barnes, Rieko Ioane still comes up to me and tells me, “Get back ten metres.”
“Huh?
“Penalty,” he says. “Back ten.” And then, after Barnes blows the final whistle, he says, “Don’t miss your flight tomorrow. Enjoy your retirement, you c**t.” So much for the All Blacks’ famous “no dickheads” policy. So much for their humility. I walk after Ioane and call him a fake-humble f***er. It doesn’t look great, me having a go at one of them just after we’ve lost. But I can’t be expected to ignore that.
“Later, I got in touch with Joe Schmidt to explain my behaviour. Joe was part of the All Blacks’ coaching team and we go back a long way. Typically, he’d been gracious in victory that night. He took time to say nice things to Luca, on the pitch, shortly after the game. The Barrett brothers — Beauden, Scott and Jordie — were real gentlemen, too, as was Ardie Savea, who had some lovely words of consolation for me. I appreciated that.”
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Sexton also writes that he is “still convinced” that Ireland were the best team in the tournament. He also acknowledges New Zealand’s well-coached effort, particularly crediting Schmidt’s influence.
He also recalls his son Luca’s comforting words after the match, marking the beginning of his healing process.
“I struggled to contain my sadness afterwards, but the healing process began even while I was still on the pitch in Saint-Denis. The TV cameras were on me and Luca when he looked up and told me, “You’re still the best, Dad.”
Obsessed, The Autobiography by Johnny Sexton is published by Penguin, Sandycove on the 10th Oct at £20/€25. Available to pre-order now
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I don't think NZers appreciate how damaging NZs behaviour after the final whistle was to relations between the two rugby nations. This is not sour grapes, we lost in 2019 and have lost many times to NZ with no issues.
But if you are throwing abuse at the Irish captain, calling hima c**t, or Retallick abusing POM with '4 more years' (idiotic because the same would apply to NZ unless they were eliminated) AFTER the whistle and follow it by derogatory gestures to the Irish crowd a couple of times,then you have some serious questions to answer. Foster and Cane were given the opportunity to address this at the post match press conference but they doubled down on Ioane's actions. Therefore Ioane's actions were NZ rugby's position.
Any attempt to compare or excuse NZs actions after the final whistle in Paris with POMs sledging of Cane are dishonest and disingenious. POM sledged Cane at the end of a scuffle. Words are exchanged in almost every game in rugby.
What Ioane and other NZ players did after the final whistle in Paris literally has never happenned in RWC history. NZ disgraced themselves. In their AB website they describe themselves as 'superstars' and 'humble heroes'. I think they don't understand the meaning of the word humble.
Sexton has every right to believe that Ireland were the best team in the tournament and could have won. Anyone from NZ or SA calling him arrogant for believeing that is being dishonest. EVERY SA player and EVERY NZ player believe this in every RWC. Ireland earned the right to belieev it and I am beyond caring what NZers opinion is on the matter.
But I can’t be expected to ignore that.
All truly great men know when to talk and when to stay quiet. Descending to the same low level won't win you any points. And it's really sad to see that you still think, even in retrospect, that calling RI what you called him was the right thing to do.
No opinion on Ioane and Retallick abusing the Irish captain, Irish players and the Irish crowd afet the final whistle? Such arrogance been has never witnessed in RWC history?
Wow just wow
Great player but this is just shocking
Great competitor but his behaviour towards refs is disgraceful so I just can’t like the guy
Just so arrogant
For the chirp POM gave Cane it was no surprise
Cheap digs from Rieko but clearly for a reason
And Whitelock was the second tackler so no Jonny let it go
And they are convinced they were the best team at the World Cup
Give me a break
Our good not great ABs beat them
I believe Ireland were the best team in the world at the time. We beat SA and acknowledging a great performance ny NZ, Ireland still did not quite deal with scheduling forcing us to play a #5 team 7 days before NZ. I believe if SA play Scotland 7 days before France they don't have adequate preperation to overcome France. I believe if its the other way round and NZ have a big game 7 days before then Ireland win every time. My respect for NZ supporters is pretty low, they are clearly an extremely arrogant bunch.
Withelock didn’t release Kelleher. Ioane is an absolute c***** and we see this year with the All Blacks how bad he became.
And we will see in Dublin in November the consequences for NZ arrogance and disrespect to Irish players and the Irish supporters after the final whistle. Forver exposed to Irish rugby people as arrogant a$$holes.
He's still convinced that Ireland were the best team at the tournament.?? Well your 1/4 final exit would suggest otherwise. So he's still being a petulant cry baby, RI said something really mean to me & really hurt my feelings.! Where was the humility with big mouth POM's spray on SC.?
Johnny “Boo Hoo” Sexton is a piece of sh1t. Calling out other pieces of sh1t.
Better team or not at the WC - the universe gave him what he deserved.
End of story.
I Imagine after reading his book one might consider offing themself. I’ll give it a miss thanks.
Johnnie being a crybaby c**t, who knew?
Hilarious that he comments about humility after his team´s performance in NZ a few years ago. If you can´t take it don´t dish it out, he is a notorious shit-talker and he and his team didn´t get it done, NZ had every right back to them.