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Johnny Sexton admits it's a disappointed Ireland camp in the wake of defeat to the All Blacks at Soldier Field. The group had trained far better over the 10 days leading to the game than the result suggested. "We feel we probably prepared really well over the last two weeks and we didn't get it out there on Saturday, which is the most disappointing thing. There’s nothing worse than when you prepare properly and you have a good plan and you just don't quite execute it," said Sexton . “The players have been pretty open and honest, and coaches too, and come in and discussed it over the last couple of days and figured out why because that's the most important thing, we’ve got to take the learnings from it and make sure that it doesn't happen again." There isn't just one identifiable area to be worked on. “It's a lot of things, isn't it? It can't be just one thing. It’s a little bit of everything. That’s a couple of penalties, a couple of inaccuracies in our attack, a couple of kicks, a couple of missed tackles. "It’s not one thing, it never is, and it's about just figuring out why, because that's the most important thing, so we can learn from it and it doesn't happen again." However, while looking back is good, it can't dominate the week into playing Japan on Saturday. “It's trying to turn the page, really, taking the lessons. Andy's always very good at that when you're in the environment, he always reframes things, we move on pretty quick, but he also keeps us accountable and makes us realise that it wasn't good enough. "And sometimes it can happen like that and we understand that. And sometimes you can put it down to prep or do guys take their eye off the ball a bit, but it just didn't go to plan on the day and we've got some good reasons for that now and we'll make sure that it doesn't happen again.” The likelihood is there will be players retained from last and mixed with some newcomers ; specifically the Ireland bench from Chicago is in the mix. “It'll be a bit of both. It’s a bit of giving guys a chance, for sure. Some of it will be selection, guys will get a chance because others didn't play that well at the weekend. “So it's always a mixture, isn't it? We need to make sure we pick a team that goes out, first of all, and tries to win the game. It's a really important game for us, as all these games are, with regards to rankings and with the World Cup draw coming up. “So picking a team to win, first and foremost, but at the same time, Andy knows that in two years' time, we're going to a World Cup and we need to have 40 players ready to ready to go." Interestingly Sexton picked up on the idea Ireland had played well in adversity, when they were down a man following Tadhg Beirne's yellow/red. “While we were down to 14 men for the red card, our kicking game was excellent. Despite not winning the ball cleanly in the air, they didn't win it and we won a lot of scraps. And that's probably what kept us in the game for that part of the game. “And that's part of the game that gave them a lot of access in the second half, I would say a couple of the kicks were just a little bit too long. We didn't quite make it a contestable and they played off the back of it. “It's a massive part of the game now with the rule changes in terms of not being allowed to escort back. You've got to clear a good pathway for people to have a real contest. “I think that will suit us because Gaelic football, you know, guys in there that always… I look back at probably 2019 when we were probably the best in the world at kicking the ball, 18/19, and teams combated a way to stop us getting up after it and that was partly how the escorting came in. "Eddie Jones seemed like he came up with it to play against us. But now it's back in as a contest and I think that will suit us going forward. But we have a little bit of work to do on it at the moment." While there was some praise for Ulster centre Stuart McCloskey, who is an injury doubt for Saturday. “He was excellent for the time that he was on the pitch. It's unfortunate for him, obviously, picking up a little strain. I don't think it's too bad, though, and he was doing a bit of work with the physios today while the rest of us were training, so hoping that he'll be back involved. "Whether it's this week or next week, I'm not sure yet, I haven't heard from Andy yet, but he was very impressive on the pitch. He started the season amazingly well, and it's great, another centre in the mix. So it's good.” Click here to sign up to our sport newsletter, bringing you the top stories and biggest headlines from Ireland and beyond .
