“Put that in the book” - Rieko Ioane’s explosive post reignites feud with Sexton

Rieko Ioane has reignited the feud with Johnny Sexton after being part of an impressive All Black performance on Friday evening when they defeated Ireland at the Aviva Stadium in front of roughly 50,000 fans.

This was the first time the hosts had lost at home in three and a half years, with the visitors taking absolute advantage of an uncharacteristically poor display from the Irish.

The tense match was built up by the undeniable tensions off the field. Both sets of fans will clearly remember the confrontational scenes between Johnny Sexton and Rieko Ioane at the final whistle of the 2023 World Cup quarter-final. Ioane had reportedly told the former Ireland captain that evening: “Don’t miss your flight tomorrow. Enjoy your retirement, you c***.”

In an extract from Sexton’s recent autobiography, Sexton responded to the event, saying: “So much for the All Blacks’ famous ‘no d***heads’ policy. So much for their humility. I walk after Ioane and call him a fake-humble f****r. 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.”

Well, as if to build upon the narrative and the gladiatorial theme being portrayed, Ioane was given the lead role of the HAKA as the All Blacks led down their challenge to Ireland. The scenes were electric, backed up even more so with their eventual 13-23 victory, but Ioane wouldn’t stop there.

Sharing the now iconic image of the HAKA on Instagram, Ioane appeared to take aim at Sexton, and inadvertently the Irish public, stating: “Put that in the book”.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by R13KO IOANE (@riekoioane_)

Fans and colleagues have called the move ‘ice cold’, while Irish fans have wondered why he’s so loud on social media but disappears during the game.

One thing that is true, however, is that this conflict isn’t over quite yet.