Irish icon Sexton plays down Six Nations final bow

Johnny Sexton says even though Saturday's Six Nations match at home to England will be his last in the tournament and could end in fairytale fashion with the Grand Slam, it does not feel as momentous as winning his 100th cap.

The 37-year-old talismanic flyhalf should sign off as the all-time tournament record points scorer -- he is tied on 557 with his predecessor as Irish playmaker Ronan O'Gara -- in what will be his 60th Six Nations match.

His first came as a replacement against France in 2010, with his maiden start against England later in the tournament.

However, the 2018 World Player of the Year sees Saturday's game as a cup final, with the final curtain for his stellar Test career to come later this year at the World Cup.

"I don't feel it as special," he said at a press conference at the Irish team training centre on Wednesday.

"Your 100th cap or something like that, you do feel that sense of occasion.

"This is the last Six Nations game, but there's so much ahead, please God, if I stay lucky and avoid injuries.

"There's hopefully a World Cup, so I'm trying to get away from the fact that it's this big last thing.

"It's just a cup final."

Sexton, who has 112 Ireland caps, says there definitely are strong emotions swirling around.

"Yeah, in the background definitely," he said.

"It's special, of course, I'd never be able to live with myself if you don't turn up and play well so that's the focus.

"You take the emotion out of it, it's going to be emotional anyway.

"You're playing England at home with something on the line, so it's always what you've wanted to do and where you wanted to be."

Sexton says only his son Luca -- the eldest of his three children -- is aware of the significance of Saturday's match.

"Look, it goes over the