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Rieko Ioane responds to Johnny Sexton’s claims with social media post
By Finn Morton
All Blacks midfielder Rieko Ioane has hit back at former Ireland captain Johnny Sexton with an Instagram story. The pair have been in the headlines the last couple of days after an extract of Sexton’s soon-to-be-released autobiography was released.
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In the passage that was published by The Sunday Times, Sexton reflected on an exchange between himself and Ioane after last year’s thrilling Rugby World Cup quarter-final. The All Blacks had just ended Ireland’s World Cup dream, and so too Sexton’s rugby career.
It was a bit of an unusual week in Paris as the All Blacks went into a quarter-final as the underdogs for maybe the first time in Rugby World Cup history. Ireland had beaten South Africa in pool play and were tipped by many to go all the way to glory.
Thousands of Irish supporters packed the stands at Stade de France for what promised to be one of the biggest knockout matches in Rugby World Cup history. But the All Blacks certainly came to play, and in the end, time just wasn’t on Ireland’s side.
The men in green launched one last attack on the All Blacks but they stood tall. With a moment of magic from Sam Whitelock to win a penalty at the breakdown, Ireland’s World Cup dream was over with a 28-24 defeat.
But, even with the sound of the full-time whistle, that was never going to put an end to the emotion of the occasion right way.
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“I couldn’t bring myself to watch the quarter-final back,” Sexton wrote in the extract. “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 ever time.
“… After (referee Wayne) Barnes blows the final whistle, he says, ‘Don’t miss your flight home tomorrow. Enjoy your retirement, you c**t.’ So much for the All Blacks’ famous ‘no dickheads’ policy. So much fr 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.”
Former Ireland hooker James Tracy has responded to the exchange, and former NRL playmaker Shaun Johnson has somewhat jokingly urged the All Black to consider jumper codes as they “love a villain” in the 13-player game.
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But, until now, the rugby world hadn’t heard from Ioane himself.
Ioane has taken to social media to hit back at Sexton. The 27-year-old shared a picture of the pair from last year’s quarter-final, with a joker card above Ioane’s head and a house emoji below the now-retired Sexton.
Zombie by the Cranberries became synonymous with Irish Rugby during last year’s Rugby World Cup. Hearing the touring fans sing that song after the win over South Africa and Scotland was like nothing this writer has ever experienced or witnessed before.
Ioane has lent into that.
Accompanying the photo, Ioane has selected Zombie to play over the image.
The song starts at the “in your head” part of the chorus.
For the first time since that World Cup eliminator, the All Blacks and Ireland will meet at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium on November 8. That’s part of New Zealand’s end-of-year tour which will also see them play Japan, England, France and Italy.
Aaron Smith played in the best team of all time. In my mind Joost and AS are even stevens, but putting Du Preez up there with them is a little too much.
Smith is top 2 all time, definitely, and atleast top1 equal if not number 1.
Joost tackled Lomu head on while he had a broken rib in the 95 wc final. Du Preez knew exactly who to pass to without even looking up. He was able to read the game on the fly better than most and he was quick... very quick. Smith is at the top of the list and a big reason why Nz were that good so in my mind he is above Dupont but those two guys were phenominal. Du Preez also played in one of the best Springbok teams of all time.
Come on... Most capped All Black back of all time, a RWC, a SR title. How many SR titles do JVDW or Preezie have?
AS has been playing for a decade, where rugby has changed drastically and the 9 position in particular has changed a lot, but he manage to keep up and has been the best 9 in the world since 2014.
No way. Joost or Du Preez.
2027 will be the same final as 2023..
The rule is, you have to wind him up so much he blocks you.
Here’s a fun tip, come up with an absolutely ridiculous statemnt that no one would ever take seriously in a million years, and watch him melt down in outrage.
Enjoy.
(And yes I need to get a life I am aware of this lol).
I'm enjoying how badly Sexton has come out in all this....
Ioane and NZ are the ones who has come out badly. Humble teams don't mock beaten opponents: arrogant teams do. The "Supertars" and "Humble heroes" in NZ can't hide from this truth.
Perhap the AB website should be updated to reflect who now are?
Me too. Tursloth is going have to buy up all the copies to help his hero out.
If only grief cycling was an olympic sport, eh Jonny?
To be fair Ioane was a pretty good winger back in the day. An utter embarrassment at 13 thougb - and couldn't lace Sexton's boots on his best day.
Like all Kiwis, he should stop shagging his missus in the pen, get a real haircut so he looks human and shut his mouth. Spewing utterly ignorant shite is the favourite pastime of all SH rugby people. It's all they excel at.
That’s offensive!
Sending hugs bro
And wining world cups ..ohh u forgot that bit ..
Good on Ioane. Spuds believed their own hype.
Good on you! Scumbags should stick together.
Jonny Sexton dishes it out so he should learn to swallow too.
Sexton never abused an opposition player or spectators after the final whistle.
Humble teams dont mock beaten opponents: arrogant teams do.
TERRY24, who are you workin for!?
Sexton having a go at another player for onfield comments is beyond ridiculous. He spent his career mouthing off at everyone - including a referee after a game when he wasn't even playing - and waving pretend yellow cards in the air to get players sent off. Can clearly dish it out but can't take it. Doesn't deserve a World Cup and fortunately never got close to one. Enjoy your retirement snowflake.
Humble teams don't mock beaten opponents, arrogant teams do.
I am sure if after the Jo-burg NZ win in 2022, If Ioane and other Kiwis called SA players c***ts and then started abusing the SA crowd, there would be a pretty quick apology from NZ and Ioane, assuming he survived the evening.
You wouldn't take the disrespect from NZ, Aussie wouldn't, why should we?
Not a big deal, we're just going to make mince meat out of them in Dublin and prepare for 2027 as if we are definitely going to meet them.
Nothing for you high veld farmers to stop milking your cows over.
Let's face it, Sexton is a gobsh**te on and off the field and I don;t balme Reiko or anybody else for having a pop at him before, during or after a game. I f I saw the prick today, I'd gladly tell him what I think of him and if his frail little mind can;t take the criticism, then perhaps he should have thought a bit more before dishing it out!!
I wonder why a highly respected, former captain of one of the great rugby teams of the past decade would even bring all of this up?
Oh right. To sell books.
probably…but what about sexton?
Even as a neutral, they have me pumped for IRE VS NZ.
Why? Sorry..must dash... back to preparing the new 'Kiwi plot' at Glasnevin cemetary....
Can safely say the whole of South Africa is right behind the All Blacks on this one.
yea its a bit pitiful really isnt it?