ALL BLACK AND BLUE
LOOKING back on the brutal vengeance wrought by the All Blacks two years ago, Johnny Sexton claims: “It was a sign of respect”.
New Zealand’s answer to Ireland’s historic victory in Chicago a fortnight earlier was to lay waste to the home side in Dublin.
The tactic worked, even if they won few fans here for their ultra-physical approach.
On reflection, Sexton reckons it was a mark of respect for the way Ireland had put the world champions to the sword at Soldier Field - the first time the Dubliner had come off the pitch on the winning side against the world’s best team. A second was to follow, in that epic second Test with the Lions last year, when he was restored to the No.10 shirt.
“They were probably hurting from a few weeks previously,” said Sexton ahead of the sides’ first encounter since that November 2016 collision. “But look, ultimately you only get the respect if you beat them. They say JOHNNY SEXTON admits he’s “baffled” by England boss Eddie Jones’ latest pop at him.
In his defence of Owen Farrell, Jones last week claimed that Sexton that themselves – and you feel it when you beat them, you get some respect.
“I’ve been a part of a few teams that have done it now, this side is capable of it. But we need to get everything right at the weekend – and we need to be close to our best.
“They’ve always been the pinnacle, really, of international rugby. They’re always the team to beat.
“Since I’ve been playing they’ve always been number one – or for the last nine years, anyway. They’ve won the last two World Cups.
“I’ve been lucky enough to play in a couple of teams that have beat them and now we want to stay up there with receives preferential treatment from referees.
“If he was Sexton then we’d be able to complain about him, but because he’s Owen Farrell he’s allowed to be them. We want to not be a flash in the pan team that challenges them once or twice – but that every time we play them, it’s a really tough game.”
All Blacks supremo Steve Hansen claimed on Sunday night that the winner of the meeting between the top two ranked sides in the world would determine which team is the best on the planet.
Sexton, 33, doesn’t quite see it that way as Ireland can’t overtake their rivals in the pecking order if they win.
“If we’re not number one, no,” he said. “Any team can beat them in a one off. England almost did it last week, but would that have made England the best team in the hit late,” said Jones. “He’s tough so he gets up and he plays.” In 2016 Jones caused a stir by saying Sexton’s parents “would be worried world? No. New
Zealand are ranked number one.
“Look, we’ll still treat it like the massive game that it is.
“Every chance you get to play against New Zealand, especially at home in front of your family and friends, it’s a very special thing.
“We’ve had it on our radar for a while, definitely. You can’t lie and say it’s just another game.
“When you think of the last three times we’ve played them, we’ve had brilliant game plans and the times we’ve executed them really, really well we’ve done well.
“Over the years we’ve ticked off a bit of history along the way with winning in Argentina, winning in South Africa for the first time, beating New Zealand for the first time.
“To beat them in Ireland for the first time would be another little bit of history that this group can create.” about that”, having made reference to what he called “a whiplash injury” ahead of a Six nations clash with injury. Jones later apologised.
Addressing Jones’ latest mention of him, Sexton said: “Look, I don’t know how I was mentioned at a New Zealand England press conference, that still baffles me. I didn’t think we were playing England until February.”