All Black Rieko Ioane’s Instagram post adds fuel to spat with Ireland’s Johnny Sexton

Johnny Sexton claims his verbal assault was reaction to Rieko Ioane's own barb. Photo / Getty Images

Rieko Ioane has poured fuel on the fire of a spat with former Irish first-five Johnny Sexton whose new autobiography features Sexton’s version of a verbal scrap with the All Black centre.

A recent book extract tells Sexton’s version of events during an infamous post-match spat with the All Black at the end of last year’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final.

Ioane posted to Instagram a photo of himself and Sexton as the Irishman is delivering a verbal spray, accompanied with the song Zombie by Irish band The Cranberries.

The chorus of the song is playing with the words “In your head” - seemingly a jab at Sexton’s displeasure with the exchange. The song was also Ireland’s unofficial anthem at last year’s World Cup, and was sung by fans notably after their pool stage victory over eventual champions South Africa.

Rieko Ioane has taken to social media as the Irish-All Blacks rivalry reaches a new height. Photo / Instagram @riekoioane_

After Wayne Barnes blew his whistle to end Ireland’s 17-match unbeaten run and dash their World Cup hopes, an irate Sexton was seen directing a few heated words toward Ioane.

Sexton claims it was a reaction to some choice words by the All Black centre.

In an extract of his autobiography Obsessed in the Sunday Times, Sexton alleges Ioane made light of the Irishman’s last test.

“I couldn’t bring myself to watch the quarter-final back. I don’t think I ever will. I don’t need to. I’ve mentally replayed every second, over and over. It finishes the same way every time.

“Rónan Kelleher still ploughs into Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock. Whitelock goes in for the poach, clearly without releasing, but somehow Wayne Barnes awards him the penalty, even though it has all happened under his nose — and it’s all over.

“And as I stand there, hands on hips, staring in disbelief at Barnes, Rieko Ioane still comes up to me and tells me, ‘Get back 10 metres.’ Huh? ‘Penalty,’ he says. ‘Back 10.’ And then, after Barnes blows the final whistle, he says, ‘Don’t miss your flight tomorrow. Enjoy your retirement, you c**t.’

“So much for the All Blacks’ famous ‘no dickheads’ policy. So much for their humility. I walk after Ioane and call him a fake-humble f***er. 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.”

Sexton said other members of the All Blacks group were humble.

There was no shortage of niggle between the two sides, either.

Brodie Retallick has also confirmed he told Ireland loose forward Peter O’Mahony “four more years, you f***wit”. In 2022, as Ireland sealed a first test and series win on New Zealand soil, O’Mahony himself called then-All Blacks captain Sam Cane “a s*** Richie McCaw”.

The All Blacks will meet Ireland for the first time since the quarter-final in Dublin on November 9.