Sexton: This is our best side

THEY have yet to emulate the class of 2009 by claiming the Heineken Cup but Jonathan Sexton has already declared the current Leinster team a markedly superior side to the one which claimed the province’s first Heineken Cup title two years ago.

Joe Schmidt’s side will get the chance to prove just that on Saturday when they face Northampton Saints in this year’s decider but Sexton’s willingness to voice such an opinion on the week of a European final is testament to his, and his side’s, self-belief this season.

“We probably didn’t play great two years ago if you look at the performances,” he said. “We peaked against Munster and we sort of struggled through the final. We had a lot of individual brilliant players, Rocky, Felipe, guys like that who used to get us out of a hole the odd time.