Rugby World Cup 2023: Ireland 'gutted we couldn't do it for Johnny', says Jack Conan
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This was another painful World Cup experience for Conan, whose 2019 tournament in Japan was ended early by injury
In the bowels of Stade de France on Saturday night, with the pain of Ireland's latest World Cup exit still raw, Jack Conan stood in front of a large huddle of journalists and their recording devices.
In the wake of such a devastating defeat, it can be hard for players to gather their thoughts. Conan had no such issue, however, as he reflected on Ireland's journey and Johnny Sexton's legacy barely an hour after New Zealand had consigned them to yet another quarter-final defeat.
Conan made his Test debut in 2015. He has lost big games for Ireland and Tests with the British and Irish Lions. With Leinster he has lost European Cup finals, but nothing compares with this.
"I've lost a lot of big games in my career to this date but this is definitely the toughest one to take," said the 31-year-old, who missed the first three games of Ireland's World Cup campaign through injury.
"To just have not done right by the effort that has been put in the last few years by the coaching staff, the players and the travelling support. People have made the effort to come over here and it is incredible.
"It's not lost on us, how much sacrifice people made to come and support us. Whether you were here or at home, it has meant the world to all of us and it's something we spoke about a lot."
Conan also spoke well about his former Leinster team-mate Johnny Sexton after a devastating end to the Ireland captain's career.
"We're genuinely just gutted that we couldn't do it for them and that we couldn't do it for Johnny, someone who deserves so much for the sacrifices he has made, for the player he is, the man he is and the leader he is, " said Conan.
"He has been everything that has been good about Irish rugby for nearly two decades and to not give him the send-off that he deserves is probably the hardest thing to take.
"He is how we measure ourselves, he is the standard-setter, he is the leader, he is an unbelievably good bloke on and off the pitch. It might be lost on people at times, but he cares more than any player I have ever met in any sport I have seen."
To Conan, Sexton is the greatest to ever pull on an Ireland jersey.
"He cares so much and he sacrifices so much and it doesn't feel right that we couldn't do it for him," he said.
"In my eyes, he is the greatest Irish player of all time for what he has done and it's been an incredible joy of mine to play with him for so many years and to have been in so many dressing rooms with him.
"It's just not right that we couldn't do better for him."
Reflecting on what Ireland have achieved over the last couple of years, Conan said: "You can't take away what this squad has done.
"So many firsts. First Test match victory in New Zealand, first Test series win in New Zealand, first Grand Slam at home, there's been so many firsts, and it's been a joy to be a small part of it along the way.
"I wouldn't trade anything for what we've been through as a squad. It's tough to say now but you'd have to think that we'll be better down the line.
"There'll be new faces and new people coming in who will get opportunities to push us forward and I'm hoping I can be a part of it and go on to achieve more, because it's the greatest joy in my life to pull on this jersey and wear it for the people that helped me to get here to this stage.
"There's just so much more in the squad and the people."