Sexton earned 124 Check caps in his profession, 118 for Eire and 6 extra for the British and Irish Lions.
World Participant of the Yr in 2018, he would win 5 Six Nations titles, three of them Grand Slams, however that defeat to New Zealand was a fourth World Cup marketing campaign the place he couldn’t assist Eire past the final eight.
In what’s his second autobiography, he states he nonetheless believes Andy Farrell’s males have been the most effective group on the match final yr.
“I do know I am biased. And I do know that South Africans – and others – will inform me to look within the file books. Nevertheless it would not be the primary time that the most effective aspect in a sports activities match did not find yourself profitable it.”
Eire have reached the quarter-finals eight occasions in World Cup historical past, shedding on all eight events, with the newest two of these defeats coming towards the All Blacks.
Sexton doesn’t really feel the poor file performed any half in final yr’s loss.
“Individuals have requested me if we have been nervous earlier than the quarter-final, if we felt the load of historical past on our shoulders, if we did something otherwise from earlier video games,” he says.
“Sure, we have been nervous, however no extra so than earlier than every other sport. Revisit the primary couple of minutes and it is the All Blacks who look extremely jittery. I do not imagine historical past had any relevance.
“We simply did not play to our optimum, and even at 90% functionality.”
Eire will face New Zealand for the primary time because the World Cup in November.
BBC Sport has approached New Zealand Rugby and Rieko Ioane’s representatives for remark.
