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. 

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."

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