WATCH: Johnny Sexton rolls back the years to break all-time Ireland record
Ireland's Jonathan Sexton celebrates scoring their side's fourth try of the game during the Rugby World Cup 2023, Pool B match at the Stade de la Beaujoire, France
Ireland captain Johnny Sexton is now his country’s all-time leading points scorer in Test rugby, reaching the landmark in the Rugby World Cup match against Tonga.
The fly-half scored his third try of the 2023 World Cup in the first half of the clash against the Pacific Islanders to surpass former Munster and British & Irish Lion number 10 Ronan O’Gara.
Sexton slides into the history books
Andy Farrell’s charges showed their ruthless edge in the first half of the clash in Nantes on Saturday evening.
Sexton opened the scoring in the seventh minute with a penalty and added another two points to his tally after converting Tadhg Beirne’s try.
He edged even closer to O’Gara’s record when he slotted his second conversion on the tries for Caelan Doris and Mack Hansen as his side went 24-6 up.
Ireland were comfortably in control of the match when a lovely flowing attack kickstarted by Sexton’s half-back partner Conor Murray saw the Irish players rip through the Tongan defence.
The 38-year-old was sent into space by centre Garry Ringrose and rolled back the years by effortlessly slipping by Salesi Piutau and then jubilantly celebrated as he slid over the line under the posts.
🔥 RECORD BREAKING SCORE!
Johnny Sexton becomes Ireland's all-time leading points scorer! 🙌#RWC2023 #IREvTON pic.twitter.com/D0FSUEq0KK
— Planet Rugby (@PlanetRugby) September 16, 2023
He converted his own score to notch up 1,090 career points, comfortably surpassing O’Gara on 1,083.
Despite Ireland’s dominance, Tonga would have the final say of the half as number eight Vaea Fifita drove over the line from the back of scrum to narrow the scores to 31-13 at the break.
Sexton would not return after the break, with Farrell opting to give Ross Byrne some game time.
It was a standout 40-minute shift from the veteran playmaker, who scored 16 of Ireland’s 31 points while he was on the park.
The Ireland captain got 65 minutes against Romania in his side’s first game of the tournament, having last played in the Six Nations clash against England in March before then.
