An emotional Johnny Sexton has bowed out of rugby after Ireland were beaten by New Zealand in the quarter-finals of the Rugby World Cup.
The all-time great held back tears on the field as he looked on after the heartbreaking 28-24 loss to the All Blacks.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Sexton’s son in tears after loss.
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There was no holding back for Sexton’s son Luca, who could be seen with tears streaming down his face as he hugged his dad.
But despite the crying, Luca was also spotted giving his dad a touching message.
It wasn’t picked up on the audio, but it was easy enough to read the lips.
“You’re still the best dad,” Luca said.
Call it a jinx, call it a curse, call it a hoodoo. Call it whatever you want, at the end of the day it all boiled down to more Irish heartache.
It had been an eighth Rugby World Cup quarter-final for the Irish. And an eighth defeat.
For 38-year-old Sexton, it brought an end to one of the great careers.
“The last six weeks have been incredible,” the retiring five-eighth said as he fought back tears.
“It has been a dream come true for all of us and that includes today.
“We showed the character of the team. You’ve got to work hard for fairytale endings and we didn’t get it, but that’s life.
“We left no stone unturned, we ticked every box, trained the house down, and played pretty well tonight.
“A few decisions, a bounce of the ball … fair play to the All Blacks.
“How can you be prouder to be Irish? (Irish fans) get behind the team like no other. It’s not wasted on us and that’s why it’s so hard to take that we couldn’t give them another couple of weekends but that’s sport, that’s life.
“This is the best group I’ve ever been part of. These lads will go on to great things, and I’ll be in the stands having a pint cheering them on.
“You can’t be 38 and sitting here giving out (complaining) … I will probably reflect more over the next couple of weeks.”
The Irish had come into the contest as the world’s No.1-ranked outfit, riding a 17-game winning streak and with their best chance of taking an unprecedented step into the last four.
But at the end, as the Stade de France stadium’s sound system blasted out Molly Malone by The Dubliners, Ireland’s players were left staring into the sky.
“Alive, alive-oh,” the speakers blared, but Ireland’s World Cup dreams were dead.
“It was a fantastic game to be part of,” coach Andy Farrell said, searching for positives on such a devastating evening for the men in green.
“And maybe fitting of a final. If you go out with a whimper, it’s pretty hard to take, and we didn’t.
“I’m just immensely proud of everyone connected with Irish rugby. I am unbelievably proud to be associated with it all.
“The sad thing is that for this group it is probably the end.
“Things are going to change. Over the next 24 hours it’s time to make sure we get a smile back on our faces and reflect on some amazing careers.”
New Zealand’s win was made more impressive by the fact they twice went down to 14 men, with yellow cards to Aaron Smith and Codie Taylor, yet managed to keep themselves ahead throughout.
Leicester Fainga’anuku, Ardie Savea and Will Jordan scored the tries that sent the three-times champions into the semi-finals for the ninth time and avenged 2022’s home series loss to the Irish.
– With AAP
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