A class act from a class player.
Johnny Sexton waved goodbye to the Six Nations tournament on Saturday in the most fitting of fashions, sealing a second Grand Slam and a fourth championship title in a decade.
Slotting big pressure kicks in typical Johnny Sexton style, the fly half led Ireland to a first ever home Grand Slam triumph, and claimed the Six Nations’ scoring record in the process.
Sexton broke Ronan O’Gara’s long-standing Six Nations scoring record. (Credit: Getty Images)Johnny Sexton’s lovely gesture to Garry Ringrose after Grand Slam.
With all eyes on Ireland’s talismanic leader in the aftermath of the historic win, Sexton still managed to deliver an act of selflessness which highlights exactly why he is Andy Farrell’s captain.
Having missed out on Ireland’s victory over a resurgent Italian side in Rome, the captaincy void left by Sexton was filled by Leinster teammate James Ryan.
As Ireland gathered around the halfway line of the Aviva Stadium pitch before their trophy presentation, the fly-half urged Ryan to come forward and hoist the Six Nations trophy together.
Ryan, however, declined the honour.
Ryan led Ireland to a bonus point win in Rome. (Credit: Getty Images)“It’s unbelievable for him to have this moment and lift the trophy,” Ireland head coach Andy Farrell told ITV post-game.
“He wanted to lift it with someone else and I said he mustn’t. He deserves it. What a way for him to go out of the Six Nations.”
The Ireland squad not only claimed the Six Nations title by defeating the old enemy but also claimed the added bonus of a Triple Crown.
Irish centre Garry Ringrose missed out on the match-day squad for the England clash after a nasty concussion at Murrayfield against the Scots.
The Ireland team, however, also made a special gesture to the Leinster man.
Garry Ringrose and Jams Ryan raise aloft the Triple Crown. (Credit: Getty Images)Ringrose’s appearance in the win over Scotland was his 50th in the green of Ireland, an iconic milestone for any player to reach.
However, due to the concussion he suffered, the centre was unable to attend his post-match presentation to mark the occasion.
The Ireland squad offered Ringrose the chance to lift the Triple Crown alongside James Ryan, a fitting gesture for a man who played such an important role in Ireland’s earlier outings.
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