Ireland head coach Andy Farrell said he hopes the ongoing dispute between his team’s former captain Johnny Sexton and All Blacks center Rieko Ioane will breathe life into Saturday’s long-awaited test between the two. teams at the Aviva Stadium.

Sexton and Ioane became embroiled in a war of words during the closing stages and after the final whistle during the teams’ previous clash – last year’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final, which the All Blacks won.

Ioane was seen mocking Sacristan after the final whistle and the legendary fly-half, who made 118 Test appearances for Ireland between 2009 and 2023, he revealed details of the altercation in his book, Obsession.

Last month, Ioane responded to excerpts from the book being published by posting an image of him and Sexton on Instagram from that game with the Cranberries’ song ‘Zombie’ playing over it.

That World Cup match was Sexton’s last game for his country and, although he will not be in action on Saturday, Farrell hopes the dispute adds some spice to the game.

“That’s what usually happens when the All Blacks come to town.”

“With any luck. That’s what everyone wants, right? That’s what everyone wants,” he said. They want it too. That’s what usually happens when the All the black people come to town anyway.

“I haven’t seen it any different than that, so I think Irish rugby is in a good place.

“I think everyone knows that New Zealand are always the team to beat, so I hope they are as good as ever, if not better.”

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Ireland have had the advantage in recent meetings with New Zealand, having won five of the last nine matches between the two teams, although the All Blacks did claim Rugby World Cup quarter-final wins over the men from the Emerald Isle. in Japan in 2019. and France in 2023.

The last match between these teams was that highly publicized meeting at last year’s world final in Paris, but despite their loss in that clash, Farrell said his team will not seek revenge.

“No, it’s not. That’s the truth,” Farrell said. “Do you need that when you play against one of the best teams in the world? I mean everyone knows that’s the truth.

“So we want to constantly be competing with the best, so if that’s not a motivation in itself… I mean, playing against the All Blacks has always brought that edge to any type of game. This is a high-level test match that everyone wants to participate in.

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‘A lot of water has gone under the bridge’

“So, revenge a year ago… a lot of rugby was played. A lot of water has also passed under the bridge. For us, at least, it doesn’t even play a role.”

Farrell announced his team on Wednesday and there were some interesting selections, but Farrell is happy with the matchday 23 he chose.

“It is what it is. You can’t pull a rabbit out of a hat and throw people in if they’re not prepared,” he added.

“It’s a great test match. You act accordingly on what is in front of you and what you have.

“We’re not South Africa, England or New Zealand in terms of there are thousands of players out there who you can just add and see how it goes… that’s not how things are here.

“Take care of the here and now, the medium term is always around the corner and there is always planning around all that and the long term can take care of itself.”

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