Retired Ireland captain Johnny Sexton has claimed that he does care about the fuss made since the release of his new book.
Sexton’s book Obsessed: The Autobiography dives into his career with Leinster and Ireland. In one chapter, Sexton details an altercation with New Zealand star Rieko Ioane after Ireland’s dramatic loss in the World Cup quarterfinal last year.
Ireland’s record points scorer revealed that he and Ioane exchanged words during and after the game:
“And as I stand there, hands on hips, staring in disbelief at Barnes, Rieko Ioane still comes up to me and tells me, ‘Get back ten metres,'” said the All Black. “Huh,” replied Sexton.
Sexton went on to say that Ioane mocked him further:Penalty,” he says. “Back ten.” And then, after Barnes blows the final whistle, he says, “Don’t miss your flight tomorrow. Enjoy your retirement, you ct.” So much for the All Blacks’ famous ‘no dickheads’ policy. So much for 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.”
This extract from the book has created a stir in New Zealand, with many slamming Sexton for his role in the altercation.
Ioane himself posted on social media via Instagram, sharing a photo of Sexton and him with the famous Cranberries’ song “Zombie” playing. The lyrics “It’s in your head” played in a mocking fashion.
The former Ireland flyhalf, currently promoting his book, was asked if he cared about the reaction in New Zealand or whether the opinions of Leinster and Ireland fans were the only ones that really mattered.
Sexton admitted that while he was shocked by the reaction, the opinions of those close to him, like his Leinster and Ireland teammates and fans, were what mattered most.
“No, I do care. Like, I do care, but the most important thing is your teammates or the people in your country,” said Sexton on the BBC’s Rugby Union Weekly podcast. “I was a bit shocked by the reaction to that because I toyed with taking the day out and leaving it out. But the reason I included it is not to complain. This is just what happened.”
Sexton also mentioned that he spoke with former Ireland coach Joe Schmidt, who was an assistant with the All Blacks at the time of the incident.
“A certain part of me was just trying to protect myself because I got criticised after the game for my reaction. People thought, “Oh, here’s your man being a sore loser again,” but they didn’t see what set me off. So it was just me explaining why. I remember texting Joe after the game and saying, “Look, I know it looked bad—me chasing your man after the final whistle—but this is what happened. I’m sorry for my reaction, but that’s the only reason I included it.”
The Ireland legend went onto to further admit that he didn’t put the extract in the book to cause trouble. It was more of a natural reaction, according to one of Ireland’s greatest ever players
“I didn’t do it to stir things up or cause trouble. I don’t really mind that it happened. This is just why I reacted. And that’s why, throughout the book, it’s sort of just explaining that at that moment, this is what I thought. This is why I reacted the way I did,” said Sexton.
Ireland are set to play New Zealand on November 9 in Dublin.