Rieko Ioane's jibe at Johnny Sexton after New Zealand win over Ireland was ‘great bit of entertainment’, says Ugo Monye
Updated 11/11/2024 at 19:54 GMT
Ugo Monye admitted he “loved” that Rieko Ioane reignited his rivalry with Johnny Sexton in the wake of New Zealand’s 23-13 victory at the Aviva Stadium. After the All-Blacks' win, Ioane directed a thinly veiled social media post towards the former Ireland fly-half, renewing a feud between the pair from the World Cup quarter-final in Paris back in October 2023.
'It's brilliant!' - Monye LOVED seeing NZ's Ioane stoking up Ireland rivalry
Video credit: TNT Sports
Ugo Monye admitted that he “loved” Rieko Ioane reigniting his rivalry with former Ireland fly-half Johnny Sexton in the wake of New Zealand’s 23-13 victory in the Autumn Nations Series at the Aviva Stadium.
On Friday in front of the TNT Sports and discovery+ cameras, the All Blacks handed Ireland just their second home defeat since 2020, bringing Andy Farrell’s 19-game winning streak at the Aviva to an end.
After the game, New Zealand centre Ioane appeared to aim a jibe at retired Ireland star Sexton on social media, reviving a feud that dates back to the All Blacks' dramatic World Cup quarter-final win in Paris last October.
That day, Ioane was caught on camera exchanging words with Sexton, who subsequently revealed details of the conversation in his autobiography.
“Don’t miss your flight home tomorrow,” Sexton claimed Ioane said in 'Obsessed', before the Kiwi added: “Enjoy retirement, you c***.”
Sexton continued: “So much for the All Blacks’ famous “no d********” policy. So much for their humility. I walk after Ioane and call him a fake-humble f*****. 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.”
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Jonathan Sexton of Ireland and Rieko Ioane of New Zealand after the 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter-final match between Ireland and New Zealand.
Image credit: Getty Images
On Friday, in the absence of hooker Codie Taylor and scrum-half TJ Perenara, Ioane led New Zealand’s Haka and was quick to take another swipe at Sexton on social media after the match.
“Put that in the book,” Ioane wrote on Instagram alongside a joker emoji in an apparent dig at Sexton.
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And TNT Sports pundit and former England star Monye admitted he loved that Ioane had reignited the rivalry.
Monye said: “I loved it. I love the way Rieko wanted to command and take charge of their cultural challenge.
“He's well aware of the column inches and how he's been spoken about and how he's seen as a villain in Ireland. It's brilliant.
“Sport is entertainment, and the more we can create a sense of drama and these rivalries, I think, is absolutely fantastic.
“Sport is entertainment, and the more we can create a sense of drama and these rivalries, I think, is absolutely fantastic.
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Video credit: TNT Sports
“There's one thing doing it. There's another thing backing it up. And so for the All Blacks to go to the Aviva and do what they did and then for Rico to double down with his social media post - ‘Stick that in your book’ - I think it's brilliant.
“Our sport should never, ever shy away from anything like that. It was a great bit of entertainment for me.”
Ireland are back in Autumn Nations Series action at home to Argentina on Friday, while New Zealand take on France the following day - with both matches live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
Stream the Gallagher Premiership, 2024 Autumn Nations Series and Premiership Women's Rugby on TNT Sports and discovery+
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