Johnny Sexton, Keith Earls and manager Mick Kearney retire from Ireland set-up
Jonathan Sexton’s son Luca with Joe Schmidt of New Zealand after the game.
A TEARFUL Johnny Sexton paid tribute to the players who've given him the best moments of his international career — and for Andy Farrell, who he described thus: 'What a coach, what a man."
"I'm very proud of the boys, proud of the nation, the country, we couldn't have done any more really," Sexton told Virgin Media after the 28-24 quarter final defeat to New Zealand at Stade de France.
"We got over the line there towards the end, it's just fine margins. We felt like they sucker-punched us on a few tries and we had to work really hard for our scores and that's what champions do. They're a great team, we knew it was going to be a massive challenge and we fell just short.
"It's been amazing. This last — whatever — six weeks, has been a dream. This group, these fans, I'm just gutted we couldn't do it for them."
Farrell later confirmed that Munster winger Keith Earls and team manager Mick Kearney would retire now.
Added Sexton: "You have got to work hard for fairytale endings and we didn't get it. That's just life. We didn't leave a stone unturned, we ticked every box, we trained the house down and I thought after a slow enough start we played pretty well tonight.
"A few decisions, a bounce of the ball. We were one inch away from getting a try so fair play to the All Blacks, they are a very good team and they are well coached so fair play to them."
Head coach Andy Farrell said he was "unbelievably proud" of his squad despite falling short of what would have been a men's record-equalling 18th test victory in a row.
"That was one hell of a game and somebody had to lose - unfortunately it was us tonight. There were two good teams going at it, fine margins and all that.
"At the start of the game we coughed up penalties and gave them field position and six points. I was so proud of the way we came back and kept attacking them right until the death. We've had a good run but sport can be cruel sometimes - I guess that's why we love it. The way we kept battling tio the end shows the character of this side."
Farrell also paid tribute to 38-year-old captain Johnny Sexton, who is retiring from rugby now their tournament is at an end.
"First and foremost he's an outstanding human being. He's probably the best ever player to play for Ireland and when you're 38 and playing your best rugby, it says a lot about the man."
Former Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll admitted that Andy Farrell's side may never get a better shot at a World Cup semi-final than this.
"That was always going to be the case and that's the case with any Ireland team that goes to a World Cup, we're going to need a big slice of luck to get us there. But it does feel like gosh when are we ever going to get a better chance to get to a World Cup semi-final or a final than with this team and what they have done, with the rugby that they've played, the momentum they've built. It's such a deflator."
O'Driscoll added: "We came up against a team of possessed men who had a point to prove and that showed."
He continued: "The fitness standards that these lads meet are exceptional. Physicality wins test matches. We spoke before the game about the breakdown, that would be the winning and the losing of the game and ultimately it was, but it was in reverse."
O'Driscoll said: "It's a very different feeling in this quarter-final because our team has played really well but they've just come off second best but it's the same result and we're still going to have to wear it. That's a long time to have to wait to try and put that right. I'm absolutely devastated for those players, all the work that's gone in over a number of years, the quality they've shown, the days out they've given the Irish public. Devastated for them and the man they couldn't get over the line to that elusive semi-final."
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