“It’s my own fault” – Johnny Sexton speaks about ban as Cian Healy misses out on World Cup

The Ireland captain is back in rotation after his three game ban.

Johnny Sexton has spoken publicly about his three-game ban for the first time, at a press conference that coincided with Ireland’s World Cup squad selection.

Sexton, Keith Earls and Conor Murray all made the 33-man squad, meaning this will be their fourth time at a World Cup. It would have been a fourth World Cup for loosehead prop Cian Healy, too, but he injured his calf in Saturday’s 17-13 win over Samoa, in Bayonne.

Healy’s place in the squad went to Jeremy Loughman, who featured against Samoa. The Munster prop had been in France as injury cover for Dave Kilcoyne, who has been included in the final squad.

Sexton missed all of Ireland’s warm-up matches after he had been banned for a misconduct breach at the Champions Cup final, back in May. The outhalf, who missed that Leinster game against La Rochelle, was called up on disciplinary hearings after upbraiding the match officials after the game.

Johnny Sexton holds hands up on ban

Johnny Sexton and Andy Farrell spoke with the media at The Shelbourne Hotel, this afternoon, following the announcement of that 33-man Ireland squad.

Sexton had not previously spoken about his ban as he was not involved in the warm-up games but he opened up about it today. He commented:

“It’s been incredibly difficult not to be involved, it’s my own fault.”

“Of course (I have regrets),” he added. “I held my hands up from day one. I made a mistake, I was very emotional on a day I’d mapped out from a long way out and to miss that a lot of emotion goes into it.”

Ireland captain Jonathan Sexton says it has been an “incredibly frustrating” summer after missing all of his country’s World Cup Warm up matches. pic.twitter.com/eqaf7P6APV

— FM104 (@FM104) August 27, 2023

Johnny Sexton may play some part of the Romania game, on Saturday, September 9, as he is short on match practice. He featured in a training match against Portugal, just over two weeks ago, and has been taking a full part in training.

“We are under no illusions of the size of the task ahead, starting with Romania in our Pool opener,” Sexton added. “We will take each challenge as it comes, leaning on the experiences and lessons we have learnt as a group over the last four years, and with our supporters travelling in numbers, we will be working hard to make this a tournament to remember.”

As well as Cian Healy, Connacht back-row Cian Prendergast was the other player who will have felt that selection cut particularly hard. He featured in the wins over Italy and England but Farrell must be confident in the fitness of Jack Conan as Prendergast misses out.

“It’s obviously difficult, because you’re shattering someone’s dream,” reflected Farrell.

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Related articles:

• Ireland team vs. Samoa: Andy Farrell changes it up, with World Cup opener in mind
• Jack Crowley not letting Ross Byrne out of his sights, as Cian Prendergast books World Cup ticket
• Ireland vs. England: All the talking points, biggest moments and player ratings
• Roy Keane cracks jokes with Johnny Sexton and Andy Farrell at Ireland training camp
• Paul O’Connell on his most treasured jersey swap and toughest opponent

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