Sexton straight back into groove at Racing

Jonathan Sexton said winning away to fellow Top 14 semi-finalists Montpellier has kick-started his second season in France in the best fashion possible.

The Irish international landed a 45m penalty two minutes from time to secure a 19-16 win on Saturday night for Racing Metro in a bad-tempered affair which saw Montpellier hooker Charles Geli red-carded on the stroke of half-time after another brawl.

Sexton, constantly targeted for late hits, kept his nerve throughout and landed all four of his kicks, in contrast to a Montpellier side who fluffed four from eight, with France international Francois Trinh-Duc the biggest culprit.