Sexton looks to inspire under-achieving Racing in Paris derby

Johnny Sexton’s two-year Parisian adventure could end abruptly tonight if he cannot steer his Racing Metro colleagues past city rivals Stade Francais in the French Top 14 play-offs.

Stade suffered a shock 27-0 defeat by Brive in the final game of the regulation season last weekend, but club president Thomas Savare said he was happy not to have been drawn with either Toulouse or Oyonnax, who meet in tomorrow’s other play-off.

“I think Racing are probably the best opponents we could play,” Savare said. “They’re a team we respect, we fear. We’ll thus have all the attention needed to prepare for this match,” he told AFP.