2023-10-14 21:59:09
Saint-Denis (AFP) – “Goodbye Legend”: Johnny Sexton bowed out without shining on Saturday evening at the Stade de France, after Ireland’s defeat against New Zealand (28-24) in the quarter-final of the World Cup -2023.
Published on: 10/14/2023 – 11:59 p.m. Modified on: 10/14/2023 – 11:57 p.m.
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He remained for long seconds with his hands on his hips when the final whistle blew. Without moving, until the first All Blacks came to greet him, Aaron Smith barely daring to disturb him.
Then he let his anger out a little, against New Zealand center Rieko Ioane, exchanging a few words that we imagine were not very pleasant.
The Dubliner then went to isolate himself on the touchline, before going to look for his son in the stands. So passed the Irish legend, the best Clover XV opener of all time.
At 38, it was his fourth and final World Cup. Ireland expected its living myth to finally allow it to reach the final four, but this was not the case.
The graying-haired player’s tally stands at 118 caps, four European Cups won with Leinster, four Six Nations Tournaments with Ireland, including two Grand Slams, and a trophy for best player in the world in 2018.
The star opener has won almost everything, but remains silent in the World Cup, like his rather lackluster match on Saturday when his team needed him the most.
Weight of years
The weight of the years seemed to weigh against the All Blacks. Hit in the adductors in March during the Tournament, then suspended this summer for his behavior during the European Cup final, the No.10 quietly made his comeback against Romania (82-8) and Tonga (59- 16).
But the minutes of play then accumulated against South Africa (13-8) then Scotland (36-14) may have ended up making him less sharp.
At the Stade de France, if the first efforts of the experienced N.10 did not immediately bear fruit, he left his mark on the match in another way.
At the foot first, to put his team back in the direction of march on two penalties and by moving the game into the New Zealand camp. Because the Irish suffered first in this match.
The Leinster half then made a nice opening for a breakthrough from Mack Hansen, then an inside return for Jamison Gibson-Park, enough to finally get a little hold of the match.
Finally, he shared his experience by pointing out to Wayne Barnes all the faults, according to him, not called by the refereeing body.
Sans inspiration
Then as the match progressed, playing fair, without embellishment, he brought his team up to the level of the All Blacks, relying on his pack And the XV of Clover, through dint of play, managed to score two tries, by Bundee Aki (27) and Jamison Gibson-Park (39).
Obviously, Johnny Sexton, the best scorer in the history of the Irish team, transformed them to bring his team within one point of the All Blacks (18-17), at the end of a Dantesque first act which looked like one step at a time.
Except that his simple, even sometimes uninspired, game lacked speed, far from the standards observed during the era of coach Andy Farrell.
Fly half Johnny Sexton fighting for a ball against the All Blacks, after the defeat in the quarter-final of the World Cup on October 14, 2023 in Saint-Denis © FRANCK FIFE / AFP
His boot also began to fail, as with this penalty, although it was well within his reach shortly before the hour mark. Ireland, trailing by eight points at this point in the match, would have really needed their lifelong hero. to pick up the score.
And finally, when Ireland launched into the final attacks to overthrow the All Blacks, he was unable to find the fault, as if drained of his genius. A discreet end for a legend, who first had a thought for his family, at the microphone of Sky Sports.
“These last six weeks have been like a dream with this group, these fans. I’m just disappointed that we couldn’t go all the way for them. You have to work hard to make dreams come true.”
© 2023 AFP
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