Jonathan Sexton has been retired from professional rugby for over a year, yet his presence alongside Rieko Ioane is expected to cast a long shadow over the upcoming Ireland-New Zealand match this week in Dublin.

Sexton has been brought back by the Irish national team as an unofficial advisor during this autumn series to help guide their three relatively young flyhalves. However, the discussions surrounding his recently released autobiography, “Obsessed,” have reignited tensions between the two teams.

Sexton’s decision to retire was ultimately influenced by how far Ireland progressed in the Rugby World Cup in France last year. Entering the quarterfinal against New Zealand, the Irish team was undefeated and ranked number one, making them favorites. However, in a closely contested match, the All Blacks came out on top with a score of 28-24.

During that game, Ioane taunted the Irish supporters and had a heated exchange with Sexton that went unnoticed by television viewers. This encounter led to accusations from the Irish media regarding Ioane’s lack of class. Both the former All Blacks coach Ian Foster and captain Sam Cane acknowledged Sexton’s impressive career while defending Ioane, suggesting that the encounter was merely competitive banter amid a high-pressure situation.

Cane commented, “Emotions can run high and words are said. It is always just left out there.”

However, Sexton has brought these incidents back into the spotlight through his book.

Sexton recounted a particularly confrontational moment where Ioane told him, “Don’t miss your flight tomorrow. Enjoy your retirement, you (expletive).” In response, Sexton expressed his views on the All Blacks, stating, “So much for (the All Blacks’) humility.” He admitted feeling compelled to respond despite knowing it wasn’t the best reaction following a loss, saying it wasn’t reasonable to expect him to disregard Ioane’s comment.

Ioane’s only reaction so far has been a vague social media post featuring a photo of the two from the quarterfinal, topped with a joker card graphic and the house emoji beneath Sexton. The post included the lyric “In your head” from The Cranberries’ song “Zombie,” which serves as an anthem for Irish supporters.

As the matchup at Aviva Stadium draws near, fans are likely to voice their displeasure directed at Ioane if he takes the field. Both athletes have staunch supporters.

Former Ireland player James Tracy remarked that while Sexton was known for his sharp words—having been suspended during last year’s World Cup warm-ups for verbally abusing officials—his career merits respect and a graceful conclusion. Tracy condemned Ioane’s remarks, labeling them “as low as you can get.”

Conversely, former All Black Israel Dagg supported Ioane’s stance, noting that challenges in a game are often met with counter-responses. He cited previous instances of player banter between the teams, recalling flanker Pete O’Mahony’s jibe directed at Cane, implying he fell short of the legendary Richie McCaw.

The All Blacks have long memories, and a noticeable incident in Paris saw Retallick fire back at O’Mahony saying, “Four more years you (expletive),” post-match.

Earlier this year during the World Cup, South African lock Eben Etzebeth accused the Irish team of overconfidence. He recounted how, following a pool match victory against the Springboks, numerous Irish players indicated they expected to meet in the final, which he perceived as a miscalculation.

During the Six Nations, Irish hooker Rob Herring characterized an upcoming match against France as “the World Cup final everyone wanted but never got.”

In the wake of Sexton’s reflections in his autobiography, he expressed surprise at the aftermath, stating he hesitated about including those details to begin with. He wanted readers to understand the context behind his reactions and address misconceptions about him being a sore loser, as he felt people weren’t privy to what provoked him initially.