While he has joked about making a comeback for St. Mary's, Saturday's Grand Slam win over England was Johnny Sexton's last Six Nations game for Ireland, and possibly his last home match - barring a Tom Brady-like u-turn.
It was as good a send off as any. Not quite as extravagant as Brian O'Driscolls, but it came with silverware and the record for most Six Nations points.
He was both a leader in the dressing room and on the pitch, and many of his teammates have about his class as a player and a person.
On the latest episode of The Rugby Pod, Finlay Bealham echoed these thoughts and shared the wishes of his Irish team for Sexton to play for one more year.
We all chanted last night saying one more year, one more year, one more year.
He kept his head down.
But we're just trying to try and get him through one more year. But yeah, it was, he was in good spirits.
Faz first spoke after the game and then Johnny spoke as well. And I was suppose for Johnny potentially, well unless he does the one more year, it's his last Six Nations game in Dublin.
One More Year For Johnny Sexton?
11 February 2023; Finlay Bealham, left, and Jonathan Sexton of Ireland celebrate victory after the Guinness Six Nations Rugby Championship match between Ireland and France at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
READ HERE: Matt Dawson Highlights An Area Of Sexton's Game He Feels Is Above Owen Farrell's
"So look, I was emotional for him," continued Bealham.
"He's had some career. He's honestly one of like the, you know the best player I've ever played with.
"What he demands of everyone, the standards he sets, his leadership, like he's the whole package.
"So it was emotional. But look, there's a World Cup coming up now in a couple of months, so we'll be very much looking forward to that."
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