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'Irish support means a lot to us' claims Sexton

Ireland captain Johnny Sexton has expressed his gratitude for the significant number of Irish fans who have travelled to France for the Rugby World Cup, stating that it means a lot to the current Irish team.

Ireland have already played against Romania in Bordeaux and Tonga in Nantes, with a large contingent of Irish rugby supporters passionately cheering on Andy Farrell's team in both fixtures.

This week, Ireland, and the reigning world champions South Africa, will face each other in Paris in a decisive match for the top spot in their group. It is rumoured that there will be around 30,000 Irish fans attending the game at the Stade de France in Paris this weekend.

Even though the World Cup is being held in France, it hasn't deterred Irish fans from making the journey to support their team. Sexton has extended special thanks to these supporters and hopes to repay their loyalty with a victory on Saturday night.

"Usually, it's the French fans who create the atmosphere there," Sexton said this week. "I don't think I've played a game here where we'll have the majority of the support. To have 30,000 - rumoured to be 30,000 - Irish fans, the support we receive during World Cups, in particular, is incredible."

"Last week, in the stadium, there was just green everywhere, the week before was the same, and I'm sure it will be the same again. So, hats off to the people who dip into their pockets and come over. It means a lot to us, and we hope to give them something to cheer about. You soak up the atmosphere, don't you? But it's only when you win that you truly get to enjoy it."

Johnny Sexton is looking forward to a sea of green roaring Ireland to victory over the defending champions - but admits he will only enjoy it if Ireland win on Saturday. "You soak up the atmosphere, don't you? But it's only when you win, that's when you get to enjoy it." pic.twitter.com/6LTKbnUQgN

— Buzz.ie (@buzzdotie) September 21, 2023

Sexton, who has faced the Springboks on multiple occasions, understands what it's like to play in a high-stakes game. The 38-year-old was asked about what makes the Springboks so special and commented on the reputation of the three-time World Cup champions. However, Sexton is confident that Ireland can overcome the challenge and deliver their best performance in Paris.

"Whenever you play against the Springboks, they have that same aura," Sexton emphasised. "It's a prestigious jersey in international rugby. But we're very proud of our own jersey as well, so it's going to be a great game, I'm sure, and we're looking forward to it."

"You have to make certain adjustments, of course, as you do every week. We had to make adjustments from Romania to Tonga, just as we did from England to Samoa. There are always tweaks in terms of the system they play and the personnel they have. That's always happening in the background."