Ireland’s flyhalf Jonathan Sexton celebrates at the end of the 2023 Rugby World Cup Pool B match between Ireland and Tonga at the Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes, western France on September 16, 2023. (Photo by LOIC VENANCE / AFP)
Johnny Sexton breaks record as Ireland eye Springboks
Johnny Sexton became Ireland’s all-time Test points scorer as they swept aside Tonga at the Rugby World Cup on Saturday.
Ireland’s flyhalf Jonathan Sexton celebrates at the end of the 2023 Rugby World Cup Pool B match between Ireland and Tonga at the Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes, western France on September 16, 2023. (Photo by LOIC VENANCE / AFP)
Johnny Sexton became Ireland’s all-time Test points scorer as they swept aside Tonga at the Rugby World Cup on Saturday.
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Ireland ran in eight tries in a convincing 59-16 bonus-point win against the Tongans in Nantes, but it was when Sexton touched down in the 38th minute that history was made.
Sexton, 38, jumped to his feet with a huge grin and was mobbed by his team-mates after moving to 1 090 points to surpass his predecessor as Irish flyhalf, Ronan O’Gara.
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Yet a far tougher test awaits next Saturday when Ireland head to Paris to take on defending champions South Africa.
The record was “a lovely personal milestone,” Sexton said.
“But I’d much rather a victory.”
“We’ll move on and we’ll concentrate now on a massive game next week,” he added.
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South Africa, who first face minnows Romania on Sunday, will not relish facing Bundee Aki, the scorer of two of Ireland’s tries in a powerful performance.
Ireland’s aim in this tournament is to move past the quarter-finals of a World Cup for the first time.
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