Farewell Sexton - a much deserved appreciation thread

It's hard to put into words what Sexton has done for Irish rugby but Podge has made a fairly good go of it. Conan always speaks eloquently and gives a good insight into proceedings and did so there. The open wound rawness of his words as well as the likes of VDF and POM discussing Sexton after the game really spoke to how he is revered within the squad bordering on adoration. It's probably not ideal for a squad to have a single figure viewed in such a manner given the absolute chasm it will leave behind the scenes but it's unfortunately the case.

I understand why he wasn't always the most popular figure with supporters from other provinces or nations but his absolute commitment, ability and performance make him utterly unparalleled as Ireland's greatest player of the professional era. When he came through, he wasn't the player he became. He was a good outhalf and potentially a good test player but there's very few that would have seen him as a future WPOTY, Lions outhalf etc. when he was 25. The determination to improve and develop was incredible even in the last couple of years when he had to play a different style to what he was once capable of.

I recall when BOD retired, we had one of these threads and I said that BOD wasn't a once in a generation player but a once in a lifetime player and we won't see the likes of him again. Well, without trying to seek out a clunky analogy, I'll just say that Sexton comfortably sits ahead of BOD at this stage both in terms of personal achievements and what he brought to those around him.

It was fortunate for Irish rugby that the scissors lady outside the nightclub didn't inflict more damage back in the day!

An absolute legend. The best Irish player this generation. He'll be sorely missed

Hardly sits comfortably ahead of BOD ffs

BOD was a great player but didn't win very much in green or with the lions. Sexton captained Ireland during a sustained period of dominance and glory. With BOD the highlights are of him scoring and pulling wonder moves on the field, Sextons highlights involve a lot of trophies.

A young lady stabbed him and a few other with a scissors outside a nightclub

Not really that bizarre or unique. Rows outside every nightclub in the country every week. There is absolutely no suggestion he was doing anything wrong at all. Wrong place, wrong time.

Happened about 17 years ago now so it wasn't as if he was a massive household name at the time. I don't know why I remembered the story at the time. I never saw it mentioned in relation to him after he became a household name. She could have ended his career before it started

As players retire they're often described as one of a kind it such like and then you think of other greats. Ireland and we the fans have been very lucky to have had such great, especially in the pro era and sometimes it's difficult to compare one to another as other players played in different eras, under different coaches or with different game plans, one thing is sure Sexton is up there with the greats of Irish Rugby

Another thing we're lucky for is that the Irish greats play their rugby at home and sometimes I think that affects how we view them as one of the ordinary rather than one of the greats.

He hasn't the end he or we hoped he'd have but he's had a great career.

Best of luck to him.

just to be pedantic, he scored in 4 of the 5 games but didnt score against scotland.

I guess whenever we had Sexton I always thought we might win, I don't think that has applied to any other player. It just felt like everyone around him was 20% better when he played. He was able to give people so much time, hit them with such gentle passes, and perfectly weigh the crossfield kicks. When Sexton missed the Paris away game in 22, I spent a long time comparing how Carbery had played that game versus Sexton. And the major difference I noticed was that Sexton always followed the pod from the boot, even when he knew he wasn't getting the pass. Other out halves let the pod do their thing and organise the following play. It always meant a slightly softer shoulder, a slightly better carry, a faster ruck, and an easier gainline. I think he just made 400 contributions a game whereas other tens only hit half that.

For me his three greatest achievements, came in three different ways and for three different teams.

The second half in 2011 - surrounded by Leinster's greatest and still youngish, he's the one who turned it around.

Le Drop - an outrageously long drop goal, after a grueling away match in pouring rain. It won us a grand slam.

The 2017 Lions tour - for me it was his return in the second test that made the material difference, and helped tie that series.

He didn't win a quarter-final, but he did lead the first Irish team of the professional era to show up in one, and while this is not a comparison the other three names usually said in the same conversation all failed to fire at world cups while playing together.

A new 15 minutes compilation of Sexton by Andrew Forde. I'd forgotten how fast he was. When he was younger the loop was used to put him into a position to make a line break because he had the speed to run through the defence.

Could easily pull up hours of footage of his best bits.

https://youtu.be/K3Ojlawf-tw?si=rol964gedYAkgcjb

Maybe but let's face it, the WC is the biggest deal in rugby and if you don't feature there at all then it's hard to be in any sort of historical conversation about the best world players, particularly when we are talking about 10s. How do we know whether any player can operate at the very highest level if he's never been tested there? Sexton won WPOTY and was often nominated which put him in the top tier but guys like Carter, Barrett and Wilkinson are getting those awards and nominations in WC years. He is part of those conversations in the context of Leinster and Ireland but no way any neutral could put him above guys who've performed consistently at the WC, nor is there any need to when we know how massive a role he has played in getting Ireland to where we are now.

A fantastic servant and ambassador for himself, his family and Ireland. And a tremendous rugby player. Nothing but respect and admiration for people like Jonathan Sexton

Legend. My favourite player ever, and I can almost feel the outrage of my 22 year old self who idolised BOD. But Johnny for me has surpassed him*

Just wish he had come to play against us in Galway more often 😆

*not getting into who was better debate, just my preference

Ireland's greatest ever player for me. He was a pain in the arse in blue (and green too I'm sure for our resident non-Irish posters) but he always gave everything he had. I can't recall a better fly half for taking the ball to the line and releasing it to the best positioned player.