Rieko Ioane claps back at Johnny Sexton in cheeky social media post after All Blacks’ victory over Ireland

Jared Wright
All Blacks centre Rieko Ioane and an insert of former Ireland captain Johnny Sexton

All Blacks centre Rieko Ioane and an insert of former Ireland captain Johnny Sexton.

All Blacks centre Rieko Ioane has clapped back at former Ireland captain Johnny Sexton after New Zealand’s 23-13 victory at Aviva Stadium.

New Zealand went back-to-back over the Irish as they handed Andy Farrell just his second home defeat as head coach since 2020, bringing a 19-game winning streak at the Aviva Stadium to an end.

Rieko Ioane-Johnny Sexton spat

Much of the build-up to the match was centred around the events that unfolded in France last year after New Zealand ended Ireland’s hopes of a first-ever World Cup semi-final with a 28-24 victory.

After that crushing defeat, which was also Sexton’s final match before retirement, Ioane decided to give the Irish legend a parting message which the Ireland fly-half revealed in his book Obsession.

“I couldn’t bring myself to watch the quarter-final back. I don’t think I ever will. I don’t need to. I’ve mentally replayed every second, over and over,” Sexton wrote in his book with extracts published in the Irish Times.

Johnny Sexton slams ‘fake-humble f****r’ Rieko Ioane as Ireland legend opens up on Rugby World Cup rant

“It finishes the same way every time. Rónan Kelleher still ploughs into Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock. Whitelock goes in for the poach, clearly without releasing, but somehow Wayne Barnes awards him the penalty, even though it has all happened under his nose — and it’s all over.

“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.’

“‘Huh?’

“‘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 c***.’

Sexton’s telling of the events after the final whistle caused a stir ahead of the rematch between the two sides with Ioane adding further fuel to the fire with a post on his Instagram story in response.

The All Blacks midfielder, who led the Haka for the first time on Friday night against Ireland, took to social media again after the match to take another swipe at Sexton.

All Blacks put lacklustre Ireland to the sword to bring 19-game home winning streak to a swift end

Ioane posted several pictures of him during the game and one of Heath Ledger’s Joker with the caption: “Put that in the book”.

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by R13KO IOANE (@riekoioane_)

The 27-year-old was public enemy number one on Friday evening as he was booed each time he appeared on the big screen. The stadium also went berserk when his opposing centre Garry Ringrose landed a mighty shot on him during the first half.

New Zealand continue their northern tour with a clash against France at the Stade de France next week while Ireland will look to bounce back against Argentina.

READ MORE: Ireland v All Blacks: Winners and losers as Scott Robertson’s side show ‘hallmarks’ of ‘great’ New Zealand teams while ‘livid’ Andy Farrell set for ‘brutal review’