Scott Robertson Shares Insights on Rieko Ioane’s Spat with Johnny Sexton
All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson recently shed light on a conversation he had with star player Rieko Ioane following the fallout from an on-field exchange with Ireland’s Jonny Sexton. The incident, which occurred during the closing moments of their World Cup quarter-final in Paris, has since resurfaced due to excerpts from Sexton’s book.
Tensions Flare in Paris
The game saw tensions peak as Ioane and Sexton engaged in a verbal clash that continued after the final whistle from referee Wayne Barnes. Ioane, caught taunting Sexton and celebrating in front of Irish fans, drew ire from Ireland supporters. Former Irish flanker Alan Quinlan even labeled Ioane’s behavior as that of a “d***head.”
At the time, the details of the exchange were unclear. However, Sexton has since shared his perspective in his book Obsession, with segments published by the Irish Times. He recounted, “As I stand there, hands on hips, staring in disbelief at Barnes, Rieko Ioane still comes up to me and tells me, ‘Get back ten metres.’”
Sexton continued, “‘Huh?’ ‘Penalty,’ he says. ‘Back ten.’ And then, after Barnes blows the final whistle, [Ioane] says, ‘Don’t miss your flight tomorrow. Enjoy your retirement, you c***.’” Sexton remarked on the apparent inconsistency with the All Blacks’ usual “no d***heads” policy, and his frustration is palpable: “I can’t be expected to ignore that.”
Rieko Ioane’s Response
After the book excerpts went public, Ioane responded by sharing a photo from the match on Instagram, set to The Cranberries’ iconic song Zombie, a move many viewed as a direct taunt toward Sexton.
Robertson’s Perspective
Following the incident’s resurgence, Robertson, when asked about it, acknowledged the history between the two teams but dismissed any ongoing issue. “No, not personally,” he quipped when asked if he’d heard from Sexton.
He added, “I had a quick talk with Rieko and asked if he wanted to discuss it. He just said, ‘No, no, it’s all done, coach.’” Robertson pointed out that rivalries like these are part of the game, regardless of the sport. “There’s still a lot of respect that we need to show,” he emphasized, noting the healthy competition between players.
An Intense Tour Ahead
As the All Blacks gear up for a tour that includes Japan, England, Ireland, France, and Italy, Robertson anticipates some fiercely competitive matches, especially with the top-five teams England, Ireland, and France.
He reflected on the increased parity in international rugby, saying, “The margins, if you look at the historical stats, the competition has evened up. Smaller margins, tighter matches, defensively teams are better, more aggressive, but there’s still opportunities.”
Fans are eager to see how these rivalries unfold as New Zealand prepares to face some of the toughest teams on the northern hemisphere tour, with much anticipation for their clashes with familiar foes like Ireland and England.
