Johnny Sexton exits as Ireland’s best ever but with an even greater legacy

Sign up to our free sport newsletter for all the latest news on everything from cycling to boxing Sign up to our free sport email for all the latest news Sign up to our free sport email for all the latest news SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. So in that sense, after Ireland’s 37 phases of agony against New Zealand led to the latest Rugby World Cup quarter-final exit, Johnny Sexton isn’t special. He bows out as a four-time Heineken Champions Cup winner, a six-time Pro14/United Rugby Championship champion, a four-time Six Nations victor, a two-time grand slam champion, Ireland’s record points scorer, the Six Nations’ top points scorer, a Test centurion, a two-time British & Irish Lion and the 2018 World Rugby Player of the Year. “Through his example, the younger guys will keep on getting better and striving to be better, there’s no doubt about that.” open image in gallery Sexton and Farrell suffered heartbreak but have helped drive Ireland to the next level during this World Cup cycle Perhaps the only debate remaining is whether Sexton goes down as the single greatest Irish rugby player of all time. “It’s been an incredible joy of mine to play with him for so many years and to have been in so many dressing rooms with him.” He may not have got the fairytale ending he deserved but Johnny Sexton’s legacy will continue to help Irish rugby grow into the future as perhaps an even greater prize.