“I’m a United fan,” clarifies Johnny Sexton. "It killed me people thought I was Liverpool.”

Ireland out-half Johnny Sexton has moved decisively to scotch the persistent public impression that he is a Liverpool fan.

Sexton referred to Liverpool’s 2005 famous Champions League comeback against AC Milan following Leinster’s own remarkable European Cup final comeback against Northampton in 2011.

And it was widely assumed he had used Liverpool’s revival to inspire his teammates in an impassioned speech he gave at half-time in that final.