Johnny Sexton left stunned by criticism of retirement statement

Johnny Sexton brought the curtain down on his illustrious career last October after Ireland's World Cup quarter-final defeat to New Zealand

Next Monday will mark a year since Jonathan Sexton last played rugby. His final game was Ireland's defeat to New Zealand in the World Cup quarter-finals, signalling the end of his illustrious career.

It wasn't unexpected; it had been well signposted that he would retire after the tournament. Two weeks later, after much contemplation, Sexton chose to announce his retirement via Instagram, feeling it necessary to recognise those who had supported him throughout his career.

However, some reactions to his statement surprised him, as he disclosed in an interview with the Sunday Independent.

"When we set out, our thing was to inspire the nation. I remember Andy (Farrell) showing us videos of homecomings - the Olympians the soccer team coming home from Italia '90 and getting a bus tour through Dublin,'' Sexton shared. "He was saying, 'Imagine if we did this! Imagine if we won'. And we fully believed we could, but I was criticised for the last line."

The final line in Sexton's statement read: "We lost, but we won", which was criticised, reports the Irish Mirror.

"I was a bit taken aback because I thought I had explained the (context).

"We set out to inspire the nation, and it was clear from the scenes we witnessed in Paris that we did inspire the nation. And from the aftermath when you met people.

"When we set out, our thing was to inspire the nation. You'd swear we did win it from the way people were reacting. So we achieved that, but we didn't win. And yeah, would I have said it if I wasn't retired? Probably not.

"But when you do retire? What do these people that criticised me want me to do? Drag it around with me? Slate the team?."