'Only a World Cup win can make Ireland number one team' - Johnny Sexton

Ireland skipper Johnny Sexton believes winning the Rugby World Cup next year will be the ultimate goal for his side.

Andy Farrell's men are at the top of the World Rugby Rankings that came following a rare away series victory against the All Blacks last summer. They also had a relatively successful Six Nations tournament earlier in the year with four wins from five matches with their only defeat in the competition coming against the eventual winners France.

Despite the top ranking, Sexton believes it will hardly matter if they fail to win the showpiece event next year in France.

“Honestly, it’s not something that we really talk about much,” he said.

“It’s not a goal to become number one in the world. That might sound stupid.

“In some sports it is – golf, tennis – but in rugby the rankings matter once and it’s three years out from the World Cup (when the World Cup draw is made), which doesn’t make that much sense either.

“We don’t speak about being number one. To be number one in the world, you need to win the World Cup, that’s where the goals are.

“Obviously you want to be the best in Europe, you want to win the Six Nations, those are our goals; it’s nothing to do with being number one and I don’t think many teams read too much into it.

“I know the other teams will probably refer to us now trying to put pressure on it but we don’t speak about it.”

Ireland's first opponent in the upcoming autumn internationals will be South Africa and it will also be the first time the two teams will lock horns with each other since 2017 and the 37-year-old heaped praises on the World Champions.

“We have to give them the respect that they absolutely deserve,” he added.

“They’re the best team in the world in terms of they’re world champions. They’re a top-class team.

“They’ve obviously won the World Cup, they beat the (British and Irish) Lions (in 2021) and had some big results over the last few years, so in terms of testing ourselves it’s huge."

Following the game against South Africa, Ireland will also be facing Fiji and Australia on 12th and 19th November respectively.