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11th October 2023
03:52pm BST
"I see evidence of Joe’s coaching through the team," he said. "Joe’s done a great job over the last 12 months, they’ve made big strides. Joe knows us well, we know him well, but Joe doesn’t get to make any tackles or run any lines at the weekend. But the legacy he left Irish rugby is massive."That was a fairly lobbed pitch for Sexton to bat back. Later in the briefing, though, he was served up with a real doozy that will have had many Kiwis leaning forward in their chairs. [caption id="attachment_293984" align="aligncenter" width="1280"]
Head coach Andy Farrell and Johnny Sexton arrive for an Ireland Rugby media conference at Stade Omnisports des Fauvettes in Domont. (Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile)[/caption]
"I haven’t thought once about personally what the game means. It’s all about the team, it’s nothing personal. "I’ve had some great battles against New Zealand over the years, with Ireland and the Lions. What you learn is every game is as tough as the last. That’s what we’re preparing for, the toughest game we have ever faced, and we are trying to put ourselves in the frame of mind that we are going to be ready for it."Whenever Ireland's World Cup journey ends, so too will the playing career of Johnny Sexton. The veteran outhalf was asked if he had visualised far enough to see himself lifting the Webb Ellis trophy. "Trying to win a World Cup, it’s something to go and get," he replied. "It’s not something that puts pressure on me. "It’s something you dream of – probably not as a kid, because when we were kids we didn’t dream of Ireland winning a World Cup. I suppose we have put ourselves in a position to do that now. But it’s not something I’ve thought about in terms of my own career. "I will think about it more when I finish. It’s all geared up to Saturday and it’s another massive challenge for this team, the biggest we have faced and we are looking forward to it."
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