Johnny Sexton says he is aware he still has to prove he's worth his place at next year's Rugby World Cup.
The Ireland captain yesterday agreed a contract extension with the IRFU, before confirming he would retire after the tournament in October 2023.
On form, the 36-year-old is still comfortably Ireland's first-choice out-half when fit, with Joey Carbery and Jack Carty his closest challengers ahead of a peloton of younger suitors across the four provinces.
However, while he's still captain and the best out-half on form, he has seen former team-mates miss out on a World Cup swansong in the past, notably John Hayes in 2011 and his former Leinster partner Gordon D'Arcy in 2015.
Both players had taken up contract offers until the end of the respective World Cup cycles, before ultimately missing the final selection.
Sexton admits he's taking that risk by continuing beyond his 38th birthday, but says having witnessed their experiences, he's even more determined to maintain his form into next season.
Johnny Sexton has signed one final contract extension with the IRFU, with the Ireland captain set to retire after the 2023 World Cup. pic.twitter.com/Zx7kqfCRdg
— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) March 8, 2022
"The thought of doing that (missing out on selection) is one that you kind of go, 'ah, I'll just finish up now', but the want to go on, and I feel so much part of this team and I love this team so much, and it’s the same set-up with Leinster," the Ireland captain said.
"I don’t feel like I want to walk away and I feel that I can still contribute and I want to and that’s the most important thing. I love coming to work everyday.
"So when I added everything up, it was an easy decision and there’s always that driving factor at the back of your head that there’s a risk that you get left behind, but I’m determined that that won’t happen."
The Leinster skipper also admits that Ireland's previous World Cup form has played its part in his decision.
Having lost in the quarter-final in all three of his previous World Cup campaigns (he missed the 2015 quarter-final against Argentina due to injury), he says the regrets of previous tournaments have given him a determination to continue for France 2023.
He said: "Yeah, that's what I’ve said previously. It’s a huge factor.
"I’d like to think that even if we were successful at previous ones I’d still have the drive but it makes it that bit easier to want to go again, because I’m very grateful for the career I’ve had, but you do look back and go, ‘we gave up some chances at World Cups and we didn’t perform at other World Cups', but you want to put that right.
"It’s just an opportunity at the moment. You’re not guaranteed anything as in you’re not guaranteed anything with selection.
"You have to continue to stay fit and keep your form and warrant a place in the team of course. To have that opportunity to try and do that is great now."
There will be an element of 'Master v Apprentice' in Saturday's Guinness Six Nations meeting with England (live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player), with Sexton set to line out opposite the prodigious Marcus Smith.
"He's got the world at his feet. If he can keep those feet on the ground, keep working hard... look, he's been very impressive so far, he's shown all the tricks. His short kicking game, good passing game, a good running game. He's got it all."
The 23-year-old Harlequins star has won eight caps since his Test debut last summer, while he was also a late call-up to the British and Irish Lions squad for their tour of South Africa, having dragged Quins to a remarkable Premiership title.
By contrast, Sexton was 24-years-old before he earned the first of his 103 Irish caps.
And he says Smith is going to be one of the world's best for a long time to come.
"George (Ford) and Owen (Farrell) have done a pretty good job over the years," he said.
"They've won a lot of trophies for England and given some big performances.
"I think Marcus has come in and has had a big impact on international rugby already, hasn't he? Especially at such a young age, to win a Premiership, to going on a Lions tour so young, he's ticking a lot of boxes already.
"He's got the world at his feet. If he can keep those feet on the ground, keep working hard... look, he's been very impressive so far, he's shown all the tricks. His short kicking game, good passing game, a good running game. He's got it all.
"He'll be a big player over the next 10-15 years for England."
Follow all of Ireland's Six Nations games via our live blogs on rte.ie/sport and on the RTÉ News App or listen to live radio coverage on RTÉ Radio 1. Watch live coverage of England v Ireland on Saturday 12 March (4.45pm) on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.
