“We have to say it” – Brian O’Driscoll on Johnny Sexton moment he may regret the most

Patrick McCarry

“It does feel like, God, when will we ever have a better chance of getting to a semi-final, or a final?”

Brian O’Driscoll had World Cup cracks in 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2011, and the closest his Ireland side ever got to a World Cup semi was in his final tilt, as they fell flat against Wales in Wellington’s ‘Cake Tin’.

Here in Ireland, it may feel strange for some that the majority of us are lavishing the retiring Ireland stars Johnny Sexton and Keith Earls with praise, not long after they were eliminated from their fourth straight World Cup quarter final.

While most rugby fans in Ireland will be feel gutted at the manner of the latest exit in the last eight – our fourth in succession and eighth in 10 tournaments – that has been parked to acknowledge the excellent Ireland careers of both men. If some cannot see past that, how about taking the words of All Blacks legend Sean Fitzpatrick as your gospel on this one.

Following New Zealand’s 28-24 win over Ireland, on Saturday, the former ABs captain spoke from the heart as he paid a fitting tribute to the now retired Ireland outhalf.

Brian O’Driscoll on Johnny Sexton

“New Zealand had to give it everything,” Sean Fitzpatrick told ITV, “as they came across an Irish side that are just so good.”

“Johnny will be disappointed but Johnny Sexton is one of the greats, and he will always be remembered as that.

“New Zealand get to live another week, Ian Foster gets to live another week. It is wonderful, and they should enjoy tonight, then start work tomorrow.

“With Johnny, I’ve been in this situation before – been knocked out. And it’s a lost opportunity for the Irish. They’ll be thinking, ‘We had a team to win this World Cup, and we’ve lost that opportunity.”

“If I was to meet Johnny for a pint,” Fitzpatrick added, “I’d tell him I lost a World Cup Final in 1995 and I’m only just getting over it now.”

Standing alongside Fitzpatrick, former Ireland captain Brian O’Driscoll said his old Leinster and Ireland teammate ‘will have to live with this for a long while’. He did point out that Sexton’s missed penalty, in the second half, hurt Ireland and would have put them just a point behind the Kiwis, heading into the final quarter.

“I think the really frustrating thing, and we talked about Johnny Sexton, looking back, we have to say it – there’s a missed penalty on 58 minutes. That gets it to within drop goal range [if he kicks it]. And that’s what makes it all the more painful, if you are looking back and you’re pulling it apart and spilling hairs.

“The reality is they have to find that they had to score a try and against the resolute defence like that, with very tired bodies at the end of the game. That was always going to be a big ask. It would have been much easier to try and get a penalty out of it or at least have a shot at goal, to take the spoils.”

The former Leinster and Ireland captain’s point is valid, and Sexton will be livid with himself over that missed it, but it is important to note Jordie Barrett missed a relatively simple one, soon after, before making amends when Conor Murray was penalised.

O’Driscoll argued that Ireland ‘threw everything’ at the All Blacks but ‘came up against a team of possessed men’ in Paris.

“There’s nothing to criticise,” he added, “there really is not.”