Andy Farrell’s blunt verdict on Johnny Sexton-Rieko Ioane spat – ‘That’s what everyone wants’
Ireland head coach Andy Farrell and Rieko Ioane tackles Johnny Sexton.
Ireland head coach Andy Farrell said he is hoping the ongoing spat between his side’s former captain Johnny Sexton and All Blacks centre Rieko Ioane will spice up Saturday’s highly anticipated Test between the sides at the Aviva Stadium.
Sexton and Ioane were involved in a war of words during the latter stages and after the final whistle during the previous clash between the sides – last year’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final clash which the All Blacks won.
Ioane was seen taunting Sexton after the final whistle and the legendary fly-half, who made 118 Test appearances for Ireland between 2009 and 2023, revealed details of the altercation in his book, Obsession.
Last month Ioane responded to the excerpts of the book that were published by posting an image of him and Sexton on Instagram from that game with the Cranberries’ song ‘Zombie’ being played over the top.
That World Cup encounter was Sexton’s final match for his country and although he will not be in action on Saturday, Farrell expects the spat to add some spice to the game.
‘That’s what normally happens when the All Blacks come into town’
“Hopefully. That’s what everyone wants, isn’t it? That’s what everyone wants,” he said. They want it as well. That’s what normally happens when the All Blacks come into town anyway.
“I haven’t seen it any different to that so I think Irish rugby’s in a good place.
“I think everyone knows New Zealand are always the team to beat so I expect it to be as good as ever, if not better.”
Ireland have held the upper-hand in recent encounters with New Zealand as they have won five of the last nine fixtures between the sides, although the All Blacks clinched Rugby World Cup quarter-final wins over the men from the Emerald Isle in Japan in 2019 and France in 2023.
The last match between these sides was that highly published encounter at last year’s global showpiece in Paris but despite their defeat in that clash, Farrell said his side will not be out for revenge.
“No, it’s not. That’s the truth,” Farrell said. “Do you need that when you’re playing against one of the best teams in the world? I mean everyone knows that’s the truth.
“So, we want to constantly be up there competing with the best so if that’s not motivation within itself… I mean playing against the All Blacks has always brought that edge to any type of game. This is a top-level Test match that everybody wants to be involved in.
‘A lot of water that’s gone under the bridge’
“So, revenge a year ago… there’s been a lot of rugby played. A lot of water that’s gone under the bridge as well. It doesn’t even play a bit in it, for us anyway.”
Farrell announced his team on Wednesday and there were some interesting selection calls but Farrell is happy with the matchday 23 which he picked.
“It is what it is. You can’t pull a rabbit out of a hat and throw people in if they’re not ready,” he added.
“It’s a big Test match. You act accordingly on what’s in front of you and what you’ve got.
“We are not South Africa or England or New Zealand in terms of there being thousands of players out there that you can just throw in and see how it goes… that’s not the way it is here.
“Look after the here and now, the medium term is always around the corner and there’s always planning in and around all that and the long term can look after itself.”
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