Johnny Sexton suffers knockout blow

Johnny Sexton had suffered a few knockouts in his time but never one like this — sitting on a chair in a Paris suburb just off the peripherique.

How ironic that the guillotine should come down on Racing Metro within three minutes of the club taking their favourite Irishman out of harm’s way and parking him on the touchline.

There is, of course, a first time for everything and the man who had never lost a knockout tie in Europe found himself taking the latest and longest count of his decorated career.