2 weeks Ago By Vincent Whelan
BRIAN O’Driscoll was “shocked” to hear Leinster were signing Rieko Ioane – but understands why they pulled the trigger on acquiring the All Black.O’Driscoll outlined how the 28-year-old would have been possibly the last big-name international recruit he’d have predicted would end up Leinster-bound owing to his spat with Johnny Sexton.The 46-year-old does see why his former club opted to snap Ioane up for the latter portion of next seasonSexton claims Ioane said ‘Enjoy retirement you c***, don’t miss your flight home’ moments after New Zealand knocked Ireland out of the 2023 World CupHim then being chosen to lead the Haka before November’s clash at the Aviva Stadium seemed a pointed moveAsked for his immediate reaction upon hearing of the surprising signing, he told Off the Ball: “My first thought was genuinely ‘Is this a delayed Instagram April Fools?’“I’m not lying.
I had to double-check the date. Because I would’ve said if there was one player that would never play for Leinster (it’d be him).“I was shocked, I really was.
It shows there’s no sentiment in sport. I suppose my over-arching feeling was shock and maybe that’s because of my relationship with Sexto.”O’Driscoll then pointed out the practicalities at play which will ensure the foes cross paths whenever Sexton observes a Leinster training session as part of his new coaching role with the IRFU.
He added: “Sexton will have to go down and watch training as well as games. Y’know, to show his face.“There’s been so many column inches devoted to everything between them.
“Listen, my take on the sledging thing – and I saw Leo Cullen saying that it’s part of the game.“What I would say about it is, and I’ve never been that much of a fan of it.“But my way of seeing things was always when the final whistle goes it’s all over.
You draw a line.So I think that’s why I personally would feel hard done by (if I was Sexton). “And again it’s probably because of my relationship with Johnny that to see someone finish their career and for those to be the final words, I just think it lacked a bit of respect.
“Like, I never particularly laughed at Pete’s jab at Sam Cane (where O’Mahony labelled him a “s*** Richie McCaw“). I just wouldn’t be one for all of that chat personally.”Sexton revealed in his autobiography that as his last game in green or blue ended, Ioane said to him: “Don’t miss your flight tomorrow.
Enjoy your retirement, you c***.”The fly-half then wrote: “So much for the All Blacks’ famous ‘no d***heads’ policy. So much for their humility.
I walk after Ioane and call him a fake-humble f*r.“It doesn’t look great, me having a go at one of them just after we’ve lost. But I can’t be expected to ignore that.
”Yet there is no doubting the Kiwi’s talent as he has won 81 caps and scored 37 tries for the All Blacks to date.He will join Leinster next December on a short-term deal, after New Zealand’s November international commitments when they will face Ireland in Chicago.In effect, Ioane will be a replacement for fellow All Black Jordie Barrett who joined Leinster last December for this season.
Just as Barrett will return to New Zealand with the Hurricanes next season, Ioane will be back with the Blues in 2027..
