Johnny Sexton and Andy Farrell say a line has been drawn under the Ireland captain's petulant reaction to being taken off in the Six Nations defeat by France in Paris last weekend.

Sexton shook his head, staring up at the coaches, when he was replaced by Ross Byrne with just over 10 minutes left of the 35-27 loss which ended Irish hopes of winning the Six Nations.

The fly-half explained his reaction was down to being unhappy with his own and the team's performance.

"I was really disappointed in myself to a certain extent. It was heat of the moment and in the biggest game I have played as captain," he said.

"Yes, it was a low point to be taken off but I reacted in a bad way, that is all I can say. I spoke to Andy after the game and on Sunday when I apologised.

"I am not going to sit here and apologise to the whole world. It should not have happened but it did," he added.

Sexton, whose form since being named World Player of the Year in 2018 has been affected by several injuries, said he and Farrell understood each other.

"You move on. It is not the first time I have apologised and won't be the last," he said.

Farrell 'doesn't feel undermined'

Farrell, who appointed Sexton captain when he took over after the 2019 World Cup as predecessor Rory Best had retired, said telling off the Leinster playmaker would be counter-productive.

"It was 100% a storm in a tea cup. Johnny is a passionate guy and it is a reason we all love him as a player, for how long he has been at the top of the Irish game," argued Farrell after Ireland's squad for the Autumn Nations Cup had been unveiled.

"I don't feel undermined and neither do the team.

"We need Johnny to be himself and there is always going to be learnings along the way but you are not going to change overnight a person who has been at the top because of the intent and attitude he has got."

'We have a good relationship'

Farrell, who is in his first national head coach role after being an assistant to both Stuart Lancaster with England and then Ireland under Joe Schmidt, said he and Sexton enjoy a good working relationship.

"Me and Johnny are always talking together. We speak most days," said the 45-year-old.

"We always discuss everything that goes on - we are always discussing his individual game, his captaincy, we are always learning together."

Sexton denies that wearing the captain's armband is too heavy a burden for him.

"No, I love being captain. When Andy asked me to do it, it was the biggest honour of my career probably and I am incredibly proud to do it," he said.

"I am trying to get better in the role, and always seek out opinions and talk to the lads and the management to see if I am doing a good enough job."