Ireland vs New Zealand: Eye-opening lessons and special encounters – Ireland legend Johnny Sexton on facing the All Blacks

Autumn Nations Series: Ireland v New Zealand

Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin Date: Friday, 8 November Kick-off: 20:10 GMT

Coverage: Listen to live commentary on BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Sounds, and follow live text commentary on the BBC Sport website and app.

“They reflect my career in a lot of ways, they’ve given me some great moments.”

From coming on for the last 10 minutes of a 66-28 defeat in New Plymouth, to a gut-wrenching World Cup quarter-final defeat in his last game as a professional, Johnny Sexton’s experience against the All Blacks started and finished on particularly sour notes.

In between, however, were some of his most cherished experiences on a rugby pitch.

Sexton was the key creative cog in Joe Schmidt’s side that ended Ireland’s 111-year wait for victory over New Zealand, a 2016 win made all the sweeter by the fact he felt his missed penalty in 2013 had contributed to a galling last-gasp defeat when history appeared to be on the cards.

Sexton was still in the 10 jersey two years later when Ireland toasted a first home victory over the game’s most famous side, and he was captain in 2022 when, under the stewardship of Andy Farrell, they won a first Test series away to New Zealand.

From the start to finish of his distinguished international career, Sexton saw the rugby relationship between the two nations change utterly. Indeed, before Friday’s meeting in Dublin, the past 10 encounters have been evenly split at five wins apiece.

“I played in New Zealand a lot of times, especially when you consider how few times I played in South Africa, or went to South Africa, never when I was playing rugby,” Ireland’s record points scorer told BBC Sport NI.

“The amount of times I played in New Zealand was huge. They reflect my story in many ways, in terms of how the early days playing against them were real eye-opening lessons – how good they were, the intensity they played at, how fit they were and the lessons that I took from that.

“Being able to come full circle, to be lucky enough to be part of a team that beat them on a few occasions with Ireland and the [British and Irish] Lions, that was very special.

“There’s been special encounters and facing the haka has been up there with some of my favourite memories playing international rugby.”