Tommy Martin: Johnny Sexton was out there swinging away until the very final whistle

Sexton was made up of loves and fears and shame and pride just like the rest of us.

ENDGAME: Jonathan Sexton of Ireland after his side's defeat in the 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter-final match between Ireland and New Zealand at the Stade de France in Paris, France. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Two conversations with Johnny Sexton. One at the start of his final year in rugby, the other in the moments right after it ended.

The first at the Ireland training base in Portugal, where Andy Farrell had brought his squad for a warm weather boot camp before the Six Nations. Late January and the Algarve is going through a cool spell but that just means it’s lovely and fresh and the skies are blue, and the year is new.