Sexton reveals glimpse of the future

EVER since David Humphries decided to wind down his first-class career, Irish rugby has lived in mortal fear of the consequences if the unthinkable ever happened and Ronan O’Gara came a cropper.

Leinster fans will just be thankful that he was wearing Munster red instead of green when it finally did on Saturday. It is just possible that his main competition for the Ireland slot was on the same pitch wearing blue.

Though it was an evening for ducks and dogs of war at a soaked RDS two evenings ago, Jonathan Sexton did enough to suggest that here is a young guy with the potential to offer a viable alternative at out-half.