Johnny Sexton says his thoughts turned to Ronan O'Gara as Ireland celebrated winning the Six Nations Grand Slam with victory over England on Saturday.
The 37-year-old broke O'Gara's Six Nations points scoring record during what was his final ever game in the tournament. A decade earlier, O'Gara's Ireland career came to an abrupt end in the middle of the competition.
"I spoke to ROG last week," Sexton told The Good, the Bad, and the Rugby podcast.
"It was funny that we were speaking when we were tied but I haven't heard from him yet since I broke the record!
"Honestly, the one time I did think of ROG was at the end of the game and the reception that I got. I really felt for him because he was a legend of Irish rugby and he didn't get to finish on his own terms in a green shirt. And he deserved to as much as anyone.
"You look at the send-off Brian [O'Driscoll] got, the send-off Paulie [O'Connell] got - I know he finished with an injury, but winning the Six Nations on his final game, I did feel for him in those moments. He deserved it."
30 July 2013; Racing Metro's Jonathan Sexton, right, and kicking coach Ronan O'Gara during squad training. Racing Metro Squad Training, Avenue Paul Langevin, Le Plessis Robinson, Paris, France. Picture credit: Fred Porcu / SPORTSFILE
After his third conversion of the win against England went between the posts, Sexton celebrated with a jump into the air. "It was embarrassing, wasn't it? I was cringing," Ireland head coach Andy Farrell joked after the game.
"I just jumped, people are calling it a dance. I don't buy that it was a dance - I'm not a dancer!" said Sexton.
"I knew it was huge kick. It wasn't to win the game but it was to go three scores clear with 10 minutes to go.
"I'd also spent about half an hour working with Dave Alred from that exact spot a couple of weeks previous. It's just mad how it worked that it came down to that kick. I probably just got too happy in the moment. I lost the head, basically."
Look at that reaction from Johnny Sexton!
He knows what's coming!!!#IREvENG #GuinnessSixNations pic.twitter.com/vSnN5qCSjm— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) March 18, 2023
See Also: Ireland Squad Rocks Up To Garry Ringrose's Gaff To Keep Six Nations Grand Slam Party Going
