Joe Schmidt: ‘I still heard his voice in games’ remembers Sexton before former coach’s Aviva Stadium return

That list of achievements is certainly lengthy.

Ireland’s first back-to-back Six Nations titles since 1948-49, a first Grand Slam in a season featuring trips to Paris and London, a first win on South African soil, a first southern hemisphere series victory in 39 years and, most memorably of all, ending the 111-year wait for victory over the All Blacks – Schmidt’s sides regularly broke through Irish Rugby’s glass ceilings.

One thing they could not manage, however, was making it to a World Cup semi-final.

In his first tilt in 2015, an Ireland side ravaged by injury were thumped by Argentina in Cardiff at the quarter-final stage.

Four years later, Schmidt had already confirmed his intention to “finish coaching” by the time of the tournament and his great side were on the wane in a campaign that featured a pool defeat by hosts Japan before a humbling loss at the hands of New Zealand in the last eight.

Given how it ended, and the success enjoyed by current head coach Andy Farrell since taking up the baton, some have since downplayed Schmidt’s contribution to Irish Rugby.

“I think sometimes people, and when I say people, a lot of it is the media, they would change it in a certain way that focuses on the six months that didn’t go well rather than the eight years he gave to Leinster and Irish Rugby when he had remarkable success,” said Sexton.

“I’d add [success] no other coach has really had. I’d hope that Andy goes on to achieve it but Joe won a Grand Slam, two championships, Heineken Cups, Amlin Cup, league titles, he won [before] with Clermont.

“You’ve got to look at the facts when you’re talking about a person’s career.

“That’s the greatest thing about winning. You always have opinion, and you’ve got to respect people’s opinion, but when you win, you can’t argue about that. No one can say you didn’t win what you did.”