But even so, scoring a dozen tries, Johnny Sexton returning for 65 minutes and their players emerging unscathed made this as straightforward a start as Andy Farrell could have hoped for.

Source: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2023/09/09/ireland-v-romania-rugby-world-cup-2023-live-score-updates/

Chief among those players is Irish talisman Johnny Sexton.

Source: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/sport/bruised-ireland-reflect-end-era-3847676?cid=cna_flip_070214

Consistency-wise, their structured attack and defence are probably the best in the world, and though Johnny Sexton will have to get back up to speed after his ban, ring rust doesn’t tend to bother the fly half.

Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/rugby-world-cup-power-rankings-b2400562.html

Contributions were made by Declan Kidney, Joe Schmidt, Paul O’Connell, Brian O’Driscoll, Peter O’Mahony, Simon Zebo, Johnny Sexton, and others.

Source: https://www.limerickpost.ie/2023/08/24/decision-time-for-andy-farrell/

Elsewhere, reigning champions kicked off with a physical win over Scotland in Paris, while Ireland blitzed Romania with 12 tries and Johnny Sexton back in the fold.

Source: https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-world-cup-2023-how-to-watch-free-tv-live-stream-itv-b1105059.html

Ireland’s Johnny Sexton charges forward to score a try against Tonga.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/sep/16/ireland-tonga-rugby-world-cup-match-report

Ireland's Johnny Sexton scores a try during the Rugby World Cup Pool B match at the Stade de Bordeaux against Romania.

Source: https://www.newsletter.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/fit-healthy-and-firing-andy-farrell-hails-johnny-sextons-ireland-comeback-4286982

Johnny Sexton and the rest of the Irish squad celebrate after they defeated England to become Six Nations champions and win the Grand Slam.

Source: https://www.thejournal.ie/news-fix-445-6022831-Mar2023/

Johnny Sexton was on the verge of tears.

Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/article-11739191/Ireland-32-19-France-Six-Nations-favourites-earn-bonus-point-victory-defending-champions.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490

"We know this is where we want to be now, in the quarter-finals against the toughest opposition we can get," Ireland skipper Johnny Sexton said.

Source: https://www.odt.co.nz/star-news/star-sport/ireland-face-new-zealand-quarters

With Johnny Sexton suspended and James Ryan and Peter O’Mahony given the weekend off, Henderson will skipper Ireland for the second time.

Source: https://roscommonherald.ie/2023/08/04/iain-henderson-backs-ireland-wing-jacob-stockdale-to-fight-for-world-cup-spot/