Sexton: Last two years were most enjoyable of my career

An emotional Johnny Sexton spoke of how grateful he is to have played for Ireland, after the captain's career came to a heartbreaking World Cup quarter-final end.

The 38-year-old played his final game of rugby on Saturday night, with Ireland falling to a devastating 28-24 defeat to New Zealand at the Stade de France.

Sexton, who won 117 caps for Ireland in his 14-year Test career was clearly emotional as he spoke to the media at the Stade de France, and says his fourth and final World Cup would be one he will cherish forever, even if it didn't have a better outcome.

"How can you be prouder to be Irish when you see what's happened over the last six weeks, really?," he said.

"The last couple of years have definitely been, in a green jersey anyway, the most enjoyable of my career. Definitely."

While Ireland never led in the game, they can look back at several moments in the 80 minutes where it was there for them to grasp it.

On 70 minutes they looked like they had New Zealand on the ropes. While they were still trailing 28-24, Ian Foster's side were down to 14 men due to Codie Taylor's yellow card, while Bundee Aki's breakdown work had seen them win a penalty in the New Zealand 22 to set up a lineout five metres from the line.

It looked like they were over for a try which would have sent them in front when they mauled their way forward, but Jordie Barrett's heroic effort held Rónan Kelleher up.

The Ireland captain also looked back with frustration on a missed penalty of his own on the hour mark. In the end, all those little moments added up.

"It's gutting that we couldn’t finish it off. Going back to that maul, when you’re over the line, it’s tough to take.

"Just a kick, if you’re chasing a penalty, it’s a lot easier at the end, but