Johnny Sexton etched his name deeper into Irish rugby’s history books with his try in Saturday’s World Cup win over Tonga.
The 38-year-old’s fine finish under the posts in Nantes took him past Ronan O’Gara to become his country’s leading points scorer.
A try, four conversions and a penalty made it a 16-point return for Sexton on a near-perfect night for Andy Farrell’s side, as they made it two from two in France with an emphatic 59-16 victory.
Sexton trailed fellow fly-half O’Gara by 33 points heading into the World Cup but has surpassed him after just two rounds of action.
He now sits on 1,090 points and fourth on the all-time list, only behind England pair Owen Farrell and Jonny Wilkinson and New Zealand legend Dan Carter.
Sexton’s third try of this year’s World Cup was among the simpler of his 18 tries for Ireland, as he put the finishing touches to a flourishing backs move.
The Leinster man, who will retire after the World Cup, was replaced at half time with his job done and the bonus point secured.
But Sexton was in no mood to reflect on his landmark post-match, as his attention pivoted to next Saturday’s potentially pool-defining showdown with South Africa.
“I don’t think it is about individual achievements,” Sexton said after the game.
“It is about getting the next win and to keep building in this tournament. It’s week-on-week in a World Cup and you have got to produce it week after week.
“Obviously we want to win the group. We want to win every game. That’s pretty clear.
“If you get through the group, it doesn’t matter if you finish first or second, you won’t have an easy game.
“But we’ll be going for the win next week and hopefully the game after (against Scotland) as well.
“My little boy will be over the moon, he was talking about the record during the week. He’ll chase it down now!”
As the tributes poured in for Sexton after his latest milestone, teammate Conor Murray spared a thought for Ireland’s former No.1, joking ‘ROG won’t be happy.’
And head coach Farrell heaped praise on his captain, who will be determined to see out his farewell year in style and add a World Cup to the Guinness Six Nations Grand Slam he won on home soil in March.
“He deserved to have it like that, didn’t he?” said Farrell.
“I think he would say that’s his job, to kick goals and score tries every now and again.
“But that doesn’t make him. What does make him is how he leads his men every single weekend.”
