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20th September 2023
10:29am BST

Ronan O'Gara, left, and Johnny Sexton leaves the pitch after and game against Argentina, in 2012 (Credit: Brendan Moran / SPORTSFILE)[/caption]
"I didn't feel much. This record lasted for [18] years and I was shocked that it lasted that long. "The only way for me to keep this record would have been if Johnny had retired. But when he decided to play on until the World Cup, it was obvious that he was going to break the record" "It's something that happens a lot," he added. "It's sport! I'm not disappointed at all. I stopped playing 10 years ago and am super lucky and privileged to have experienced what I experienced. "I am very happy for Johnny, he works a lot and takes it very serious. For me, having the opportunity to coach La Rochelle and win two [European] titles with La Rochelle is phenomenal. When I was a player, I was very competitive. But it has been a long time now!"As for Sexton himself, he spoke about breaking the record in Ireland's post-Tonga press briefing. "It's something when you retire you can look back on and be very proud," he said. "My little boy will be very proud. He was talking about it during the week. It's there to be broken now and I'm sure there'll be some young guys eyeing it up. I'm very proud but tonight it was more important to get the win." Asked if he had received a text or message from O'Gara, Sexton joked that he was unsure if they were still speaking after a tense Champions Cup final, back in May.
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