Johnny Sexton decided to retire from professional rugby following Ireland’s exit from the World Cup, but some, including Ronan O’Gara, argue that a different decision should have been made.
O’Gara, an Irish icon, believes that Johnny Sexton should have been substituted in his final game, the 28-24 Rugby World Cup quarter-final defeat to New Zealand.
Sexton, who is 38 years old, played the entire 80 minutes, but O’Gara thinks that giving Jack Crowley a chance might have improved their odds against the All Blacks.
According to O’Gara, Sexton was clearly fatigued in the latter stages of the game, slowing down to a walking pace when Ireland was on the brink of elimination from the tournament. Jack Crowley, who had shown promise in his limited opportunities, remained on the bench as head coach Andy Farrell chose to stick with Sexton for the closure of his career.
O’Gara pointed out that while Farrell emphasized the importance of depth, there was always a concern about the support behind Johnny Sexton. In retrospect, it seems that making the change to Crowley for a change of pace could have been a wise move.
Crowley had played only a few minutes in France, mainly because of Ireland’s strong pool performance, before they faced New Zealand in the knockout stage. He had been a standout player for Munster during their United Rugby Championship victory, and O’Gara believed he should have been given a chance while Sexton was tiring.
However, Sexton remained on the field, and Ireland made a last-ditch effort to score a late try that would have secured their spot in the semi-finals.
Johnny Sexton, after finishing his career on the field, expressed his gratitude to the supporters of Leinster, Racing, the British & Irish Lions, and Ireland, as well as to his family for their unwavering support. He also expressed excitement about the next chapter of his life with his wife and children and reflected on the proudest moments of his career, which included playing with his children watching.
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