johnny sexton He hopes that his childhood dream of captaining Irish rugby to a grand slam victory in Dublin isn’t the pinnacle of his career as he turns his attention to a rift on his way to becoming world champion.
Halfway Sexton had an unforgettable experience. Guinness Six Nations Swan song lifting silverware in front of a noisy St Patrick’s weekend crowd after a thrilling 29-16 success against rivals England on Saturday evening.
The 37-year-old also became the championship’s all-time top scorer, beating former teammate Ronan O’Gara with a total of 566 points. Andy Farrell As Ireland’s greatest player.
A private trip to a sold-out Aviva Stadium was a fitting end to Sexton’s 60th and final game in the championship, contrasting sharply with the finale of his first campaign, which resulted in his disgraceful response as captain in 2020. To be replaced as defeated to France.
Leinster halfway, who will retire later this year, has praised head coach Farrell’s influence and looks forward to the duo sharing an even bigger victory at this fall’s World Cup.
Of Farrell, Sexton said, “He’s made his own mark on you from day one.” “The best thing about him is that he hasn’t changed one iota from assistant to head coach. He is still very popular even among the children he did not choose.
“From the moment I disappointed myself when I went against France, we were able to come back. This was probably the lowest point, the true lowest point.
“And that’s a high point, but hopefully not the highest point.
“(He) is a very special coach. It’s a pretty special locker room to be a part of when he, Paul O’Connell and Simon Easterby, Catty (Mike Catt), John Fogarty motivates you throughout the week.
“So we really thank him for putting it all together and making it to the World Cup, that’s what we need to focus on now.”
Sexton scored a penalty and added extras to two Dan Sheehan tries and a Robbie Henshaw score before limping late against England.
She jumped for joy after performing her third and final transformation, but rejected suggestions that it was a dance.
“That was embarrassing, wasn’t it? I was embarrassed,” Farrell joked.
Sexton said: “I didn’t dance! I jumped into the air, didn’t I?
“I’m not a dancer, I can confirm that. I knew getting a three point lead was a big hit and that’s why you’re doing all the work you do, so I’m absolutely delighted – I didn’t dance though!
Jamie George made a consolation attempt for England before substitute Rob Herring tapped the ground to score bonus points.
Coach Farrell expects his side, which won a historic series in New Zealand last summer, to be even stronger in their World Cup opening match against Romania on 9 September.
“I’m telling Johnny there are bigger fish than that,” he said.
When we come to the first game of the World Cup, we expect our side to be much better than we know, and that’s the truth.
Andy Farrell
“We’re a good team that hasn’t reached its potential, and I’ve been saying over the last few weeks that’s what we’ve been trying to do.
“Everybody will be better in the summer.
“We spend a lot more time together, so when we get to the first game of the World Cup we expect our side to be much better than we knew, and that’s the truth.”