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Johnny Sexton said being mobbed by team-mates after marking his 100th Ireland cap with a try ranked among the “best moments” of his illustrious career.
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Captain Sexton stylishly celebrated the milestone occasion by claiming the fifth of nine Irish scores during Saturday’s 60-5 demolition of Japan in Dublin.
The influential 36-year-old, who also kicked 11 points, received a standing ovation from spectators as fellow players piled on, before being given another rapturous reception when he was later withdrawn.
“It was a very special moment for me – it’s up there with the best moments of my career,” Sexton said of his 48th-minute touch down.
“There was an incredible ovation and then I saw my family, I knew where they were sitting before the game, and they were just smiling.
“I don’t think Andrew Conway came in because he thought I should have passed the ball to him!
“A 14-man pile on and it was a very special moment, and the crowd at that moment I will remember forever.
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“It’s just been a surreal day and a surreal week.”
Andy Farrell’s men were in dominant mood from the outset and warmed up for next weekend’s showdown against New Zealand by producing some scintillating, free-flowing rugby.
Winger Conway claimed a hat-trick, while James Lowe, Jamison Gibson-Park, Bundee Aki, Garry Ringrose and replacement Cian Healy were also on the scoresheet.
Veteran fly-half Sexton became only the seventh Irishman to reach a century of appearances, following Brian O’Driscoll, Ronan O’Gara, Rory Best, Paul O’Connell, John Hayes and Healy.
He received messages of support from each of those players ahead of the game and was also presented with a Samurai sword by Japan captain Pieter Labuschagne at full-time.
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Asked what he would do with the gift, he replied: “Keep it away from Luca (his son) – he’ll bash his sisters with it!
“I’ll put it pride of place. It’s a special day and that’s a special memento to get from an opposition team, that’s very special for me.”
The Aviva Stadium was fully open to fans for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic took hold early last year.
While the first of three autumn international on successive weekends was far from sold out, any negativity regarding the empty seats and Ireland’s decision to ditch their traditional green jerseys in favour of a purple alternative was swiftly eradicated by a spellbinding display.
Not a side to Johnny Sexton we often get to see. Major feels 👋👋👋#IREvJPN #AutumnNationsSeries pic.twitter.com/SL4EeGSQTM
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 6, 2021
“I thought that we saw glimpses of it last season but we didn’t do it consistently enough,” Sexton said of the performance.
“Today we probably took a step forward. We did it more consistently.
“Still parts of it that we need to do better, especially for next week against the best team in the world, but it was pretty good and we have been working on it for a long time.
“We got a result to go along with the performance today.”
Japan’s 57th-minute consolation came from winger Siosaia Fifita.
Brave Blossoms head coach Jamie Joseph said: “The Irish team played really well, they were playing – I felt – for one of their brothers in terms of Johnny Sexton.
“It was the first match in the stadium (with a sizeable crowd) for a long time, so there was a lot to play for and they are playing the All Blacks next week and we were on the receiving end of that.
“We’ve just got to get ourselves back up again now and get on with it.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Hats off to Fabian for a very impressive journey to date. Is it as ‘uniquely unlikely’ as Rugby Pass suggests, given Anton Segner’s journey at the Blues?
1 Go to commentsSad that this was not confirmed. When administrators talk about expanding the game they evidently don’t include pathways to the top tier of rugby for teams outside of the old boys club. Rugby deserves better, and certainly Georgia does.
1 Go to commentsLions might take him on if they move on Van Rooyen but I doubt he will want to go back, might consider it a step backwards for himself. Sharks would take him on but if Plumtree goes on to win the challenge cup they will keep him on. Also sharks showing some promising signs recently. Stormers and Bulls are stable and Springboks are already filled up. Quality coach though, interesting to see where he ends up
1 Go to commentsAnd the person responsible for creating a culture of accountability is?
2 Go to commentsMore useless words from Ben Smith -Please get another team to write about. SA really dont need your input, it suck anyway.
264 Go to commentsThis disgraceful episode must result in management and coach team sackings. A new manager with worse results than previous and the coaching staff need to coached. Awful massacre led by donkeys.
1 Go to commentsInteresting article with one glaring mistake. This sentence: “And between the top four nations right now, Ireland, France, South Africa, and New Zealand…” should read: And between the top four nations right now, South Africa, Ireland, New Zealand and France…”. Get it right wistful thinkers, its not that hard.
23 Go to commentsHow did Penny get the gig anyway?
2 Go to commentsNice write up Nick and I would have agreed a week ago. However as you would know Cale & co got absolutely monstered by the Blues back row of Sotutu, Ioane and Papaliti and not all of these 3 are guaranteed a start in the Black jumper. He may need to put some kgs before stepping up, Spring tour? After the week end Joe will be a bit more restless. Will need to pick a mobile tough pack for Wales and hope England does the right thing and bashes the ABs. I like your last paragraph but I would bring Swinton, Hannigan into the 6 role and Bobby V to 8
21 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can still get in to the Play Off’s. The imminent return of outstanding captain Scott Barrett and his All Black team mate Codie Taylor will be a big boost.There are others like Tamaiti Williams too. Two home games coming up. Fellow Crusader fans get there and support these guys. I will be.
1 Go to commentsCant get more Wellington than Proctor.
2 Go to commentsWhy not let the media decide. Like how they choose the head coach. Like most of us we entrust the rugby system to choose. A rugby team includes the coaches. It's collective.
13 Go to commentsHi NIck, I have been very impressed with him and he seems a smart player who can see opportunities which Bobby V _(who must be an international 6_) doesn’t see or have the speed to take advantage of. If he continues to improve and puts on 5kgs then he could be a great 8. He is a bit taller than Keiran Reid at 1.93m and 111 kgs, so his skill set fits his body size and who knows where it will lead. I hope the spate of Achilles tendon issues have been dealt with by the S&C people. It’s been a very long time since Mark Loane and Kefu stood out at 8. The question is will we be able to hold onto him, if he does make it he will be pretty hot property. I disagree with the idea of letting them go to the Northern Hemisphere and then bring them back.
21 Go to commentsBilly Fulton 🤣🤣🤣🤣 garrrmon not even close
13 Go to commentsDoes the AI take into account refs? hahaha Seriously why not have two on field refs to avoid bias?
23 Go to commentsVern challenging this Blues side might be the edge they need to fulfill their potential. Convincing results from strong D and strong carries are hard to argue against.
1 Go to commentsLove seems to add a strong back field defense with speed to close the gap and tackle to his ability to attack, kick and pass (an accurate long pass). This sets him an edge over some of the other names - JRK in particular. Has to be said that Jordan and Stevenson have also been exposed defensively while Love has yet to face test match intensity. Spoilt for choice.
1 Go to commentsHe’s strung together a few strong seasons, I’d like to see him in the ABs and build some depth along with Reiko and ALB. Levi Aumua hasn’t taken the step we hoped to see but time yet.
2 Go to commentsWhere has our good friend Pecos gone!? Similar place to the Crusaders D, the abyss.
4 Go to commentsNice piece Nick. I haven’t seen much of the brumbies this year so will keep my powder dry on charlie, but clearly has the speed and footwork to be damaging in space. Similar to Samu, I’d worry about the size of our pack if the likes of Mcreight and Cale were in the b/row together. Maybe Cale could play a similar finisher role like Samu did for Rennie’s wallabies. Has Cale leapfrogged wilson in your eyes? He obviously has the lineout, but harry probably better (although not great) in the physical stuff and also has great hands in the loose. You’d have to say mcreight and valetini are shoe-ins at 7/8, so the question becomes who matches best with them at 6 and on the bench. I don’t know if he has a high enough ceiling, but id love to see wright given a shot based on how much bad luck he has had with injuries. He may also fit that no-nonsense graft/work rate irish approach…? If schmidt wants size and a 4/6 tweener then I’d probably pick Uru. On the bench I’d have no idea, Wilson if you want to give valetini a rest, and maybe hanigan/wright/uru as 6 replacements.
21 Go to comments