By Steffan Thomas
Jonathan Sexton has been forced to apologise to Ireland head coach Andy Farrell a week out from Wales’ trip to Dublin.
The Leinster star was visibly annoyed after being substituted by Farrell during Ireland’s Six Nations finale defeat to France last weekend.
Sexton will undoubtedly be a thorn in Wales’ side in their Autumn Nations Cup opener next Friday.
While Farrell has moved on, agreeing “100 per cent” that the issue is a storm in a teacup after naming his squad for the forthcoming Autumn Nations Cup, a contrite Sexton admitted it is “a low point” in his career.
“You’ve got to take it from my point of view, it’s in the heat of the moment, I’m in one of the biggest games I’ve played in as captain,” said Sexton.
“It’s a low point and I reacted in a bad way in a split second and that’s it.
“I spoke to Andy after the game and again on Sunday when I realised it was such a big thing and we sorted things out.
“I apologised and said ‘it shouldn’t have happened, it did, it was a split second’.
“I let myself down in that regard but you learn and move on. It’s not the first apology I’ve made in my career and it won’t be the last, probably.
“Thankfully we’ve got a good relationship and there’s no problems going forward.”
Farrell has drafted in uncapped trio James Lowe, Billy Burns and Shane Daly for the visit of Wayne Pivac’s side and was laid back when discussing Sexton’s actions.
“The last thing I want to do to Johnny is stop him from being himself, otherwise we all suffer,” said Farrell.
“Johnny’s a passionate guy and it’s the reason why we all love him as a player at the top of the Irish game. I don’t feel undermined and the team don’t either.
“You’re not going to change overnight a person that’s been at the top doing what he’s done because of the intent and the attitude that he’s got.”