Irish rugby legend Johnny Sexton has revealed that he never received an explanation from Warren Gatland about being left out of the British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa in 2021. Despite his hopes for a third Lions tour, Sexton says the omission “still kills [him] to this day.”
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The Silence from Gatland
In his new autobiography Obsessed: The Autobiography of Johnny Sexton, the Irish fly-half opens up about his disappointment at being excluded from the squad and admits he never heard from Gatland directly about the decision. “We’d never had a very close relationship,” Sexton writes, adding that he believed his form, especially towards the end of the Six Nations, would secure his place.
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“I was convinced he would bring me, based on the fact that we had been successful on previous tours. Gatland has always said that Six Nations form was his main selection guide and I had finished the Six Nations strongly.”
Personal Milestones and Lions Ambitions
Sexton goes on to explain the significance of the Lions tour in his career aspirations, noting his desire to join an elite group of players who have played in three or more Test series for the Lions. “I craved a third Lions tour. There’s an exclusive club of players who have played in three or more Test series for the Lions and I desperately wanted to be in it.”
Despite the competition for places, Sexton believed his performances, combined with Gatland’s trust in him from previous tours, would see him selected. “The rational part of me said that Gats would still be guided by my form in the last three rounds of the Six Nations and what I’d achieved for the Lions in 2013 and 2017,” he said.
Questioning the Selection Process
Reflecting on the final squad selection, which included eight Scottish players, Sexton expressed his surprise and frustration. “When I saw the squad, it felt like he’d been guided by someone else. Eight Scots in the squad? Based on what?”
While he acknowledges that being selected for the Lions is an honour and not guaranteed, Sexton admits that the lack of communication from Gatland still lingers. “I never heard from Gats. He wasn’t obliged to call me, of course. I didn’t expect a call.”
The Emotional Impact
The absence of clarity from Gatland continues to weigh on Sexton, even years after the selection. “You’d probably think I’d be over it by now,” he confesses. “It kills me to this day.”
Three ex-Lions were not impressed with Warren Gatland as head coach
Finn Russell has become the latest Lions tourist to openly criticize head coach Warren Gatland following the 2-1 series defeat against South Africa.
#1. Sean O’Brien (2017)
The Irishman started all three Tests of the 1-1 drawn series with New Zealand.
“If we had a little more structure during the weeks, and more of an attack gameplan, driven way earlier in the tour, I think we could have won 3-0,” O’Brien said.
“With the players we had, we should have won the series.”
He later reinforced this point of view during an interview with Lions teammate James Haskell
“When you look at the players we had – there was so much world-class talent in the squad, enough to have won all the Tests.
“I know all about the history, how the Lions have only won seven Tests or something like that in New Zealand over the years.
“But look at what has happened to New Zealand since 2017. They’re still a brilliant team. But we (Ireland) beat them in 2018; South Africa beat them down there in 2018, Argentina had their win last year, England destroyed them in the (2019) World Cup.
“Think about it. The Lions not only had the best of England but also Ireland, Scotland and Wales. That’s where I was coming from; we had the players to do it. I didn’t intend to insult or undermine anyone by saying that.
“I certainly don’t want to do that this time because Warren’s a good coach, the right man to lead this tour. But do I still think we could have won 3-0? Yeah, I do.”
Sean O’Brien facts:
- Internationally, he played for Ireland for ten years, and toured twice with the British & Irish Lions in 2013 and 2017
- O’Brien played across the back-row, though he primarily plays as an openside flanker
- He bought Bellamy’s Pub in Ballsbridge with Leinster teammates Rob Kearney, Dave Kearney and Jamie Heaslip. After an extensive refurbishment, it was reopened as “The Bridge 1859”