Murphy: No RWC hangover for Sexton

MANY elements combine to produce the unique chemistry of a Leinster-Munster fixture and one of the more fascinating in recent years has been the head-to-head rivalry between the province’s out-halves.

It has been thus ever since Jonathan Sexton replaced an injured Felipe Contepomi in the Heineken Cup semi-final at Croke Park in 2009 with the latest chapter written during the recent World Cup when Ronan O’Gara regained the number 10 jersey.

Declan Kidney wouldn’t admit as much but his preference for the Munster out-half in the last two games, against Italy and Wales, must have been prompted in some part by Sexton’s goalkicking travails in the tournament.