JOSH VAN DER Flier says the toughest aspect of their Rugby World Cup exit is seeing Ireland captain Johnny Sexton retire on a losing note.
Ireland suffered World Cup quarter-final heartache for the eighth time this evening after a thrilling contest against New Zealand that left them just short at the final whistle. The result also marks the end of Sexton’s incredible career, denying him the chance to progress and ultimately sign-off with victory in a World Cup final.
“It’s very disappointing,” Van der Flier told Virgin Media after their four-point loss to the All-Blacks.
“It’s a pretty devastated dressing room in there as you’d expect. Andy [Farrell] talked to us and this doesn’t define us as a team. We’ve come a long way and proved a huge amount as a group. We’ve done loads of special things so it’s hugely disappointing.
“Credit to New Zealand, they played very well and best of luck to them going forward. The hardest part for me is seeing Johnny finishing up and what it means to him playing for Ireland. He’s probably the greatest Irish player there’s ever been. He’s been incredible so I hope he’ll get a good send-off.”
Commenting on Ireland’s cursed luck with World Cup quarter-finals, the Leinster star added:
“It doesn’t feel like justice for the incredible staff we have and how much effort everyone put in. It’s a really close group and we’ve put in an unbelievable effort. I don’t know if there’s much we’d change going into it to be honest. I thought our preparation was brilliant going into it and it just wasn’t our day. That’s cup rugby.”
🗣 "The hardest part for me is seeing Johnny finish up. He's probably the greatest Irish player there's ever been."
— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) October 14, 2023
Josh van der Flier speaking to @TommyMartinVM post-match in Paris.#IREvNZL | #RWC2023 pic.twitter.com/181CX2IbaQ
Van der Flier concluded by saying that the team will review their performance at the tournament in France before resetting to prepare for the 2024 Six Nations,. He also thanked the Irish fans for their support throughout the competition.
“It’s been absolutely incredible. The amount of support we’ve had made such a big difference. When things weren’t going so well, the support was unbelievable. So many fans, family and friends made it over. It really does make a huge amount and the messages we’re getting from back home really adds to how special it is for us to play for Ireland.
“We’re disappointed for ourselves but probably more disappointed for the country.”
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Josh is a credit to himself and the team. To come out and face the music in such a manner is no easy task. Thought he spoke brilliantly and with honesty. Not our nation’s night, but I actually don’t feel too upset. It reminds me of heading over to Germany for Dortmund’s draw at the end of last season to let the league slip away (sorry rugby purists!). Just being there in the atmosphere and seeing the comeradery after such a heartbreaking occasion… it almost galvinises you. You think ‘I love this s**t’. Our fans were incredible, the players left it out there, their families backed them, and nobody left us wondering what if. Just nothing but immense pride in our side and our 5.5 million strong country to be slugging it out on the world stage. A hair’s breadth from what we wanted.
The hardest part for this team will be knowing that they didn’t play that well tonight in certain areas and still nearly won.
I’d be asking serious questions of Gary Keegan after that, our supposed mind skills guru. We were very poor and not at the pitch of the game. 13-0 down before we woke up. Terrible.
@Aidan Farrell: Nothing to do with Gary Keegan.he done his bit getting them right mentally. The only question mark is now over Paul O’Connell and his line out coaching..two big games and it was more than dicey
Great player. Probs peaked a few seasons ago, no one close to him in Ireland yet tho.
Van der Flier didn’t have much of an impact this world cup and was blown off the field last night despite he best efforts – he is a class act no doubts however. Andy Farrell was too slow to make changes for Sexton, Porter, Bernie & JvdF which might have cost us in a game of absolute inches. I cant remember a tougher loss that this one..