Johnny Sexton denounces “false-humble” Rieko Ioane in his speech on the Rugby World Cup: Planet Rugby

Former Ireland fly-half Johnny Sexton has revealed what really happened after their Rugby World Cup quarter-final defeat to the All Blacks in 2023.

Andy Farrell’s men were ousted by New Zealand after a agonizing 28-24 reverse in France as their title dreams once again ended in the last 16.

It was a devastating loss for the country but particularly for the fly-half, whose career ended at the Stade de France after announcing the World Cup would be his last tournament before retirement.

After the match, cameras showed an angry Sexton shouting at All Blacks players, with Ioane the target of his anger.

Tells it all in a new book

In his autobiography Obsessedwhich will be released on October 10, the former playmaker addressed the match and the subsequent post-match incident with the New Zealand center.

“I couldn’t bring myself to watch the quarter-final again. I don’t think I ever will. I don’t need it. I mentally replayed every second, over and over again,” Sexton wrote.

“It ends the same way every time. Rónan Kelleher still goes for Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock. Whitelock goes for the poaching, clearly not letting up, but somehow Wayne Barnes awards him the penalty, even though it all happened under his nose – and it’s over.

Johnny Sexton fumes after Rieko Ioane’s ‘classless’ gesture after World Cup quarter-finals

“And as I stand there with my hands on my hips, looking at Barnes in disbelief, Rieko Ioane still comes up to me and says, ‘Go back ten meters.’

“‘Eh?’

“’Penalty,’ he said. “Back ten. And then, after Barnes blew the final whistle, he said, “Don’t miss your flight tomorrow.” Enjoy your retirement, you bastard.

“So much for the All Blacks’ famous “no skulls” policy. So much for their humility. I walk after Ioane and call him a fake-humble f****r. Doesn’t seem great to try one of these right after losing. But I can’t be expected to ignore it.

Contrast with the other All Blacks

Ioane bore the brunt of Sexton’s criticism, with the former Ireland fly-half praising some All Blacks players and coaches for their reaction after the match.

If the New Zealand speedster lacked humility, according to the 39-year-old, this was not the case for other members of the team.

“Later, I contacted Joe Schmidt to explain my behavior. Joe was part of the All Blacks coaching staff and that goes back a long way. Generally, he had been gracious in his victory that evening. He took the time to say nice things to Luca, on the pitch, shortly after the match,” he added.

“The Barrett brothers – Beauden, Scott and Jordie – were also real gentlemen, as was Ardie Savea, who had some nice words of consolation for me. I appreciated that.

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