Johnny Sexton: 'It’s horrible to see in this day and age'

Johnny Sexton says the racist abuse directed at Munster second row Edwin Edogbo will have marred his Ireland debut.

Edogbo, who was born and raised in County Cork to Nigerian parents, was targeted on social media after coming off the bench in Saturday’s 20-13 Guinness Six Nations win over Italy in Dublin.

“It’s horrible to see in this day and age that it still exists like that,” assistant coach Sexton told reporters on Tuesday.

“In terms of how is he, I think he’s good, I don’t think he would have paid too much attention to it. He’s a pretty humble guy, really level-headed.

“But it’s not right some of the comments that were made. I feel for him and feel for his family. It’s marred a pretty special day for him.”

The Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) has confirmed it is investigating the abuse.

Ireland are back in action away to England on Saturday and Sexton says they are determined to generate competition at fly-half ahead of next year’s World Cup amid the ongoing rivalry between Sam Prendergast and Jack Crowley.

Crowley has been tipped to start this weekend after impressing as a replacement in the round-two win over Italy following a difficult outing for starting 10 Prendergast.

Former captain Sexton knows all about times when Ireland were heavily reliant on one man in that position, having been first choice for more than a decade before retirement in 2023.

The 40-year-old wants all four fly-halves in the squad fighting for selection.

“It’s important that not only those two (Prendergast and Crowley), but Harry Byrne and Ciaran Frawley too keep developing and getting game time,” Sexton said.

“All the criticism from previous (World Cup) cycles is that we didn’t develop guys, that we have relied too heavily on one (player) in some positions.

“We’re doing it a different way now and whether that’s right or wrong, everyone judges it by the outcome, but I know that in games to come, they’re going to hit their best form and they’ll be in a good place.”

Head coach Andy Farrell hit out at online criticism from “keyboard warriors” in the aftermath of the victory over the Azzurri as he called for public support of Leinster player Prendergast and Munster man Crowley.

Crowley, 26, helped Ireland retain the Six Nations title in 2024 following Sexton’s retirement before Frawley, 28, began to stake his claim for the number 10 shirt during that year’s drawn series in South Africa.

Prendergast, 23, emerged at international level in the autumn of 2024 to ultimately jump ahead of Crowley in the pecking order, while 26-year-old Byrne, who has four caps and never stated a Test, continued to be name-checked by Farrell.

“All four are very good,” said Sexton.

“They’ve all got their different strengths and as coaches I think we are trying to make sure that we have lots of options going to a World Cup, try and learn from previous cycles and make sure that we give them all a certain number of caps.

“We need to make sure that we see them perform in different pressurised situations, in different venues against different opposition and I’m sure it will be like that for the foreseeable.”

Farrell, whose side were beaten 36-14 by France in their Six Nations opener, is set to name his starting XV for the England game on Thursday morning.

“Any time you go to Twickenham is a huge challenge, no matter where you are or what stage of a World Cup cycle it is,” said Sexton.

“I think we’ll take some good learnings from the French game.”