World Cup debutant Craig Casey joked that soon-to-be-retired Johnny Sexton might join Leinster rivals Munster in the wake of the skipper breaking the all-time points record for Ireland.
Sexton wrote himself into the history books with Ireland's fourth try in the 59-16 rout of Tonga in Nantes last night.
The 38-year-old is set to retire after the World Cup and become a commercial manager with the Ardagh Group, a company which supplies sustainable glass and metal packaging.
"It could have been about a contract with a customer, sustainability issues, procurement, buying energy, raw materials, about the manufacturing of bottles or cans," he said about a work call as he dipped his toes in the post-rugby water last year.
But Casey, who set up James Lowe's try against Tonga last night, has other ideas for the player who spent 15 seasons at Leinster.
"I've been saying that it's soon to retire and I'm trying to get him down to Munster as a coach next year, almost like an EPDO [Elite Player Development Officer]," the 24-year-old said with a smile.
"But no, there's a bit of craic between the whole squad.
"It's great for Johnny and his family. I know his son Luca is another competitive little fellow, he'll probably want to take over his dad's points record at some stage. I could see that.
"It's unbelievable for him, it's a testament for him, the commitment he shows to the game is second to none.
Munster scrum-half Casey won his 13th cap at the Stade de la Beaujoire and is in competition with team-mate Conor Murray and Leinster 9 Jamison Gibson-Park for a place in the match-day 23.
The Limerick native added: "It's a competitive position and I want to keep pushing on. I'm obviously not happy to be third choice but I think to learn off two guys like that is great and try to soak it all in.
"In the pre-season you get more of a chance to kind of bond. Obviously we know each other a good few years, but there's not games every week that you are concentrating on.
"You are just concentrating on getting yourself better and bouncing off each other and it's been brilliant. I can't say enough about the two lads, they are world-class operators and hopefully I can emulate them at some stage and be a world-class operator myself but to learn off them is brilliant.
"I just want to keep pushing them and get the squad better."
Casey almost snuck over for a try of his own in the second half and said: "No, I was actually looking for a few forwards, we have a call and I've probably taken one step too many, I could have just played it off the deck for them.
"I wasn't looking for the try myself. It would have been nice to get one on my World Cup debut but it wasn't looking for it. I'd have to go back and see what I could have done better around those fringes near the line."
Ireland, who face South Africa in Paris on Saturday night, were roared home by a boisterous crowd in Nantes and Casey had a message for the fans: "Keep enjoying it, we're delighted with all the numbers that have travelled out.
"It's definitely a week to enjoy, get in amongst it and just have craic an enjoy. We'll be working hard and won't be distracted by that, just enjoy the week, it's a huge week, it's a huge game for rugby, it's a huge game for Irish rugby so just enjoy it."
