JOHNNY SEXTON saw his incredible career come to a devastating end in Paris as Ireland were defeated in the World Cup quarter-final last year.
It’s been nearly a year since the legendary Ireland and Leinster number ten called time on his storied career.
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Jonathan Sexton says he has yet to watch back Ireland’s last-eight loss to the All Blacks at the 2023 Rugby World Cup
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Jonathan Sexton and Rieko Ioane had a heated exchange after the game
And now extracts of his new book have been released in which he went into detail about the infamous exchange he had with All Black star Rieko Ioane.
With emotions high at full-time, tensions seemed to boil over between the then Ireland captain and All Blacks centre Ioane.
Now The Sunday Times have published extracts from the rugby legend’s new book this weekend – ‘Obsessed – The Autobiography of Johnny Sexton’ – where it detailed Sexton’s view of the incident.
The out-half admitted he hasn’t watched back the painful 24-28 loss at Stade de France – and reckons he never will.
The 118-times capped icon also says referee Wayne Barnes got the match-ending penalty call wrong.
The 39-year-old said: “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.”
He added: “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. I said, Huh?’
“Penalty, he says – Back ten. And then, after Barnes blows the final whistle.
The St Mary’s legend then went on to reveal all of what was said between Ioane and himself in the expletive exchange before stating the All Black player lacked any humility.
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“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.
GENTLEMEN
The former Bective Rangers man also went on to credit his former Ireland and Leinster boss Joe Schmidt before hailing the Barrett brothers as gentlemen.
Jordie is due to join Leinster at the end of the November test series on a season-long deal.
Sexton concluded: “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.”
Obsessed, The Autobiography by Johnny Sexton is published by Penguin, Sandycove on the 10th Oct at £20/€25.
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