Grand Slam a fitting Six Nations finale for Ireland's 'greatest' Sexton, says Farrell

Head coach Andy Farrell said it was "unbelievably fitting" that "the greatest player to play for Ireland", Johnny Sexton, ended his Six Nations career by captaining the Irish to the Grand Slam.

The 37-year-old also became the Six Nations all-time record points scorer, finishing with 566 after Ireland beat England 29-16 at Lansdowne Road.

The visitors were reduced to 14 men after Freddie Steward was sent off at the end of the first half.

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Farrell was delighted that Sexton could lift the trophy in his home city of Dublin.

Ireland's previous three Five/Six Nations Grand Slams came in Belfast (1948), Cardiff (2009) and London (2018).

"I am delighted for captain Johnny here to finish his Six Nations campaign with the Grand Slam," said Farrell at the post-match press conference.

"It doesn't come around that often and it is unbelievably fitting, in my opinion, that the greatest player to play for Ireland is able to sign off on a Grand Slam on St Patrick's weekend in front of his own crowd.

"There's a lot of stars that have aligned over the last eight weeks that have come together and accumulated into this evening."

'This is not the end'

Lifting the trophy represented the pinnacle so far for Sexton under Farrell - Ireland won the Triple Crown last year but came second to Grand Slam winners France.

"He's been able to, how do I put it, bounce back after I was taken off in France in 2020," said Sexton, who on that occasion scowled as he was replaced in Paris in what was Farrell's first Six Nations in charge.

"That was a low point, a real low point for me. And this is a high point, but I hope it's not the highest point.

"Roll on the World Cup!"

A moment that