Racing 92 co-head coach Laurent Labit believes his side’s 40-minute powerplay that destroyed Munster’s European dream will not be good enough to defeat Champions Cup final opponents Leinster in Bilbao in three weeks.

No I haven’t walked the 200 feet of tunnel that reputedly leads from renowned London wine merchants Berry Brothers and Rudd to Buckingham Palace, but I am assured such a route exists, writes Ronan O’Gara.

The team news ahead of Sunday’s Champions Cup semi-final.

Munster will go into Champions Cup semi-final weekend as the only one of Europe’s last four with a win behind them after their opponents this Saturday – Racing 92 – were defeated by Toulouse.

After the 2015 World Cup, the Racing 92 coaching ticket was invited to meet the ex-England head coach Stuart Lancaster in Paris, writes Ronan O’Gara.

It’s not good when people who are investing trust in you feel they are out of the loop, writes Ronan O’Gara.

Pride restored after a Parisian wake-up call a fortnight ago, Ronan O’Gara was able to take plenty of encouragement from Racing 92’s honourable defeat on his return to Thomond Park.

Ronan O’Gara explains why he is staying in Paris for three more years

THE French are fascinated by Jonathan Sexton. They don’t quite know what to make of him, this driven fly-half with the same burning intensity as Jonny Wilkinson.

Ronan O’Gara’s Racing have a new name this season, and a new look to their backline following the departures of Jonathan Sexton and Jamie Roberts over the summer.

Racing Metro coach Laurent Labit fears Johnny Sexton could suffer more concussions because of his tackling style.

Ireland out-half Johnny Sexton will miss the start of the Six Nations next February after being sidelined for three months on medical grounds following a number of concussions this year.

French newspaper L’Equipe is reporting that Racing Metro and Ireland fly-half Jonny Sexton has been ruled out of action until after Valentine’s Day next year.

New Zealand legend Dan Carter is set to be unveiled as Jonathan Sexton’s replacement at Racing Metro this morning.

Clermont Auvergne have been knocked off the summit of the Top 14 ahead of their two Champions Cup clashes with Munster after they went down 27-19 away to champions Toulon on Saturday night.

I’ve been a bold boy. Or so I’ve been told. I’ve had to explain myself, which is fine. You’re not always losing when you’re explaining, writes Ronan O'Gara.

Concerns as to Jonathan Sexton’s fitness ahead of Ireland’s meeting with South Africa have been eased appreciably, with team manager Mick Kearney stressing that the out-half is "100%" ready for Saturday evening’s encounter.

Jonathan Sexton has emerged as an injury concern ahead of Saturday's test with the Springboks.

Jonathan Sexton has all but made his mind up as to where he will play his club rugby in 12 months’ time, but the Racing Metro out-half stopped short of revealing whether home will be Dublin or Paris.

Joe Schmidt has held discussions with Racing Metro joint-coach Laurent Labit with a view to working out how Jonathan Sexton’s club and national paymasters can better manage the player to the benefit of both camps next season.

Johnny Sexton has beaten his thumb ligament problem in time to face Italy in the RBS 6 Nations in Dublin on Saturday.

Ireland and Racing Metro are at loggerheads over the severity of Johnny Sexton’s thumb injury, casting the fly-half’s RBS 6 Nations campaign into doubt.

Johnny Sexton could miss the rest of the RBS 6 Nations due to a thumb ligament injury.

Ronan O’Gara admits it would be a blow to Irish rugby if new captain Paul O’Connell moved to a French club next summer.

Ronan O’Gara admits it would be a blow to Irish rugby if new captain Paul O’Connell moved to a French club next summer.

LEINSTER V CASTRES

HERE’S a news flash from France on attitudes to the Heineken Cup — it doesn’t move the discussion dial here. And it is seldom lunchtime chat either for the players with clubs who kick off the road to Cardiff this weekend.

Ronan O’Gara’s role at Racing Metro has increased substantially from the kicking coach position which was announced in May when he made the shock decision to move to Paris.

Rugby legend Ronan O’Gara kicks off a new career in new surroundings today as he begins life as a coach with French Top 14 side Racing Metro.

Life in Paris, and his new career with Racing Metro 92, became that bit more real this week for Ronan O’Gara, who spent two days in the French capital where he met with the club’s new coaches, Laurent Travers and Laurent Labit.

Tomorrow night’s Top 14 final sees Toulon aiming for a double after their win over Clermont in the Heineken Cup final a fortnight ago. Standing in their way are Castres, the underdogs.

It’s the eve of an all-Irish Rabo Direct pro 12 final, again underlining just how strong the provincial game remains in this country.

Future Racing Metro coach Laurent Labit refused to be drawn on whether they will issue Ronan O’Gara with a squad number for next season.

The final weeks of any season are characterised by drama and emotion. Dreams fulfilled and shattered, players moving on, others donning the boots for one last battle.

Sexton made right call to go to France.

Steer 20 stone men around the pitch in a foreign language, battle with other internationals for your position and deal with the president’s whims... those are the challenges facing Jonny Sexton in Racing Metro, according to Montauban out-half Peter Durcan.

For the second year in-a-row, Leinster opened the defence of their crown against a side making their Heineken Cup debut.

Tackling one of the most expensively compiled sides in France without a third of your first choice team in the intimidating surrounds of the Stade de France in this afternoon’s opening game of the new Heineken Cup campaign may well seem a bridge too far for a Munster team in transition.

CASTRES coach Laurent Labit warns his side will be no pushovers when they come to Thomond Park for Saturday’s Pool 1 Heineken Cup showdown with Munster.

CASTRES out-half Pierre Bernard has paid tribute to his opposite number Ronan O’Gara following Munster’s last gasp win in Toulouse on Saturday.