Ioane starts shock Leinster spell after Sexton spat

Johnny Sexton occupied the court for 30 minutes before the pre-tour game against Argentina in Dublin earlier this year during his first media appearance as a coach of the British and Irish Lions.

From his previous comments about Finn Russell and his coaching ambitions to the current contest for the Ireland 10 jersey, there was a lot covered.

However, Sexton’s final question for the former Ireland captain was Rieko Ioane, with whom he had a heated exchange following the 2023 World Cup quarter-final in Paris.

Sexton yelled out incredulously when asked what he thought about Leinster’s sudden decision to sign the New Zealand back.

Sexton, one of Ireland’s greatest players, grinned, “Wow, save the best for the last.”

My Munster season ticket was purchased last week, so let me put it that way!

Sexton’s confrontational style in his 17 years of professional football left him without a shortage of enemies, but his obscene encounter with Ioane after Ireland lost in the World Cup quarter-final to Ireland in 2023 clearly left a bad taste in his final game.

Sexton claimed Ioane said, “don’t miss your flight tomorrow,” reliving the expletive-filled exchange in his autobiography, which was published last year. Enjoy your retirement, and you’re exhausted.

Sexton wrote, “So much for the All Blacks’ infamous “no]expletive]” policy.

For their modesty, that is. Ioane is a fake-humble [expletive] and I chase him down.

It doesn’t look great until I try to take one of them after we’ve lost. But that is something I can’t possibly ignore.

Ioane led the All Blacks’ haka for the first time before their victory over Ireland in Dublin shortly after the publication of Sexton’s book.

He seized the opportunity to respond in a respectful manner following the game.

Put that in the book, he wrote on Instagram, along with a picture of him guiding the haka at Aviva Stadium.

After being replaced by the All Blacks, Ioane, 28, will make his Leinster debut on Saturday off the bench. This will mark the start of an important chapter of his career.

He started the first three rounds of the Rugby Championship before being replaced by South Africa’s visiting Wellington after switching from outside the center to left for New Zealand’s Test series against France.

In addition, Ioane was left out of Scott Robertson’s matchday squads for the All Blacks’ games against Ireland, Scotland, and England.

It is a difficult time for a player who once had the rugby world at his feet, even though he made a try-scoring return to the line-up in a resounding win over Wales in Cardiff.

Ioane made his Super Rugby debut for the Blues the day after turning 19 in March 2016 and was raised in a rugby family; his parents and older brother both played at international level.

Before the end of the year, he had played for New Zealand in the Sevens and made a 15s Test debut against Italy.

He quickly established himself, playing for the British and Irish Lions in 2017 and scoring 10 tries in both the 2017 and 2018 All Blacks Rugby Championship victories.

Before the 2019 World Cup, he was dropped from the list of 17- and 18-year World Rugby players nominated for the award.

He started five of New Zealand’s seven games, including the final, against South Africa, and he became more prominent in France four years later.

Despite changing fortunes, his 38 tries and 88 caps are undeniable.

Leinster senior coach Jacques Nienaber was quick to dismiss his character, who remarked that Ioane’s aura “smacks you in the face.”

Nienaber is confident that he will fit into Leinster’s defensive system because he frequently faced Ioane during his time coaching in South Africa.

You’re a little anxious; will they get used to the defense system and all of our systems? It will take time, but you can tell there’s quality, Nienaber said.

Ioane will undoubtedly follow in the footsteps of his long-awaited All Black partner Jordie Barrett, who excelled last season at Leinster.

Incontrovertibly, Barrett controversially started the Champions Cup semi-final defeat to Northampton starting with the bench and scored seven tries in 15 Leinster appearances.

Leinster hooker Dan Sheehan responded to questions about Ioane possibly matching Barrett by saying, “They’re different people, different players.

Because many people have spent the past ten years living in the same system without having any outsider knowledge, Jerry was fantastic at being able to almost coach lads and see things from a different perspective.

“That’s what RG [Snyman, South Africa international] and Rieko can bring to us, different ideas from different parts of the world, and obviously at a top-level level,” said Rieko.

Before falling to French opponents in the final four (La Rochelle twice and Toulouse), Leinster lost three straight games to French opponents.

Ireland hooker Dan Sheehan said Leinster are hoping to capitalize on Ioane’s big-game experience this time around. He said he played in all three.

He poses a serious threat to his reputation. If we can tap into his competitive edge, he added, “the things he’s been able to achieve, the amount of experience he has, and the competitive edge he has would be brilliant,” he continued.