Sexton does the damage as Racing reach last four

Toulouse 16 Racing Metro 21

Sexton kicked seven from seven in a wonderful display to set up a showdown with Toulon next weekend in Lille.

The victory ensures that Ronan O’Gara’s and Sexton’s first season in France moves to a new level as the big-spending Paris side go in search of their first Bouclier de Brennus of the professional era.

Flawless kicking from Sexton saw Racing Metro lead 12-3 at the break.

Their hopes suffered a severe setback three minutes after the restart when Hosea Gear got in for the game’s first try, which Jean Marc Doussain converted.

Doussain edged Toulouse in front with a 50th-minute penalty but Sexton responded inside four minutes to put Racing back in front.

The lead again quickly changed hands as both sides coughed up cheap penalties in the red zone, Doussain making it 16-15 before Sexton, after hitting a post with a drop goal, kept his nerve to land a difficult penalty from the left after 62 minutes for Racing to lead 18-16.

Toulouse came in search of a winner but the Racing pack was superb, along with replacement scrum-half Mike Phillips, and Sexton sealed the issue with his seventh penalty two minutes from time.