Johnny Sexton on Paul McGrath’s special pre-match message

"You couldn't not notice it. It was a very special moment for me."

As Johnny Sexton was engulfed by Ireland teammates, not long after crossing for his side's sixth try against Japan, fans across the Aviva Stadium rose to acclaim the Test centurion. Sexton was making his 106th Test outing but his 100th for Ireland. Having delivered so many special performances and moments for Irish rugby fans, he was always going to get a good reception. To receive two long-standing ovations in the space of 10 minutes, though, exceeded even his top expectations.

Johnny Sexton on earning his 100th cap for Ireland

"It's up there with the best moments of my career. There was an incredible ovation and then I saw my family, I knew where they were sitting before the game, and they were just smiling, so then I was trying to switch in and get the conversion. I was probably more happy about that than anything. "There were very special moments throughout the game. Leading out your country for any game is special but to do it today with the crowd today... I feel a bit guilty because there are guys like Cian Healy who won his 100th cap and then two of my best friends in the game, Fergus McFadden and Rob Kearney, who retired in an empty stadium. So I do feel a bit guilty that I got to this point."

[caption id="attachment_240102" align="alignnone" width="641"] Jonathan Sexton with a Katana (sword) that was presented to him by the Japanese captain after Ireland's win at the Aviva Stadium. (Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile)[/caption]

'Pride of place' for Johnny Sexton.

Following the host's 60-5 victory, Japan captain Pieter Labuschagne presented Sexton with a ceremonial 'Katana' sword to mark his 100th Ireland appearances achievement. Asked what he was going to do with the sword, Ireland head coach Andy Farrell joked, "Give it to his son!"

"I'll Keep it away from Luca," Sexton replied, "he’ll bash his sisters with it. "I’ll put it pride of place. It’s a special day and that’s a special memento to get from an opposition team, that’s very special for me and it will take pride of place somewhere in my house.”

It was almost a perfect day. Farrell remarked that the only thing to bring Sexton back to earth was learning, post-match, that Manchester United had been beaten 2-0 by cross-town rivals Manchester City.

Message from 'Boyhood Hero' Paul McGrath

As the days counted down for Sexton to join Ireland's '100 Club', Sexton says he was inundated with positive messages. "It’s been a strange week, like. Since the team was announced the amount of messages coming in… I think I spent a record time replying to people yesterday, and things like that, but then I had to remember that I had a game to play. "We had to try and make sure we got the performance right. There was some good stuff but then a couple of mistakes I would like to iron out but then it’s first game back and that’s always… a little bit rusty. We only had three or four sessions to put out that standard of performance. I thought it was a testament to the boys, to the management, to the work that was done this last week to make sure we were ready. We got our rewards in the end." Asked if any particular message stood out, the Ireland captain said the likes of Brian O'Driscoll and Rory Best had been in touch but his face lit up when he spoke of former Manchester United and Ireland footballer Paul McGrath.

"All the lads with a hundred caps made the effort to reach out. That meant a lot to me. Obviously some boyhood heroes. Paul McGrath. It was on Instagram, that one. So many, to be honest. "Again, I feel like I’m going to wake up and it’s going to be the morning of the game. It’s just been a surreal day and a surreal week."

A week capped off with a try and a 16-point haul against The Brave Blossoms, followed by pitch-side pictures with wife Laura and his three children. He will enjoy the night that follows and rest up on Sunday. Come Monday morning, though, the All Blacks come into sharp focus.

---