Johnny Sexton admits he’s primed for revenge mission against New Zealand in the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals as he warns Ireland team-mated they ‘need to be ready’

Johnny Sexton is set for a New Zealand revenge mission in the World Cup quarter-finals, as Ireland advance to the last 16 with a resounding victory over Scotland.

The result took Ireland top of Pool B, following their previous victory against world champions South Africa, and propelled them into a decisive clash against the All Blacks in Paris next Saturday evening.

And the memory of Ireland’s historic victory on their tour of New Zealand last summer is still strong in his players’ minds, and Sexton is sure it will be part of their motivation for this mouth-watering encounter.

“It’s going to be another very difficult match,” said the Irish captain, shortly after the 36-14 victory against the Scots.

“I see they’re already talking about revenge. It’s a match they want and we have to be ready for it.

Andy Farrell, who insisted Ireland were still not playing at their best, paid further tribute to the extraordinary support, with Irish fans vastly outnumbering Scots on the pitch. Some estimates put the Irish contingent at over 60,000 out of a crowd of 78,459.

“We had a bit of stick for walking around after South Africa, but we did it after every game,” Farrell said, referring to the team greeting supporters after the final whistle.

“It’s the least we can do after they arrived in their thousands. It means more to us than people think. France is full of Irish people, but I know it gets crazy back home.

Scotland coach Gregor Townsend, who declared Ireland one of two favorites for the World Cup, had no complaints.

“I have to give credit to Ireland, they executed really well and took the game away from us.” Suggesting that Ireland’s systems could see them dominate the game for “the next five, ten years”, he said it was the best the Irish had played against Scotland in his time as manager.

“They are the best in the world for a reason,” he said.