Schmidt hails cool Sexton

Leinster head coach Joe Schmidt was not surprised that Jonathan Sexton held his nerve to salvage a 16-16 draw with the last kick of a pulsating game against Montpellier.

Fulgence Ouedraogo’s first-half try looked like it might have been enough to give Heineken Cup debutants Montpellier a fairytale win against the defending champions, only for the visitors to stage a stirring comeback.

Sean Cronin’s 66th-minute try gave them hope before the assured Sexton levelled things at 16-16 with a last-gasp penalty.

The talismanic out-half had missed with a much easier chance shortly before Cronin’s try but Schmidt felt Sexton could bounce back despite being jeered by the large home support as he lined up his final attempt.

“That’s typical Johnny,” said Schmidt. “I don’t think he was rattled by it at all. I think it helps him narrow his focus and get the job done, and he did that superbly.”

Leinster captain Leo Cullen felt a draw was a fair result, with the visitors’ late pressure finally taking its toll on a tiring Montpellier side.

“We created some good opportunities in the first half when we played with a bit of pace,” he said.

“There were a couple of key moments in the game. We were attacking inside the 22 and turned the ball over and they went down the field and scored a try so that felt like a 14-point turnaround.

“Montpellier competed very well at the breakdown and we weren’t accurate enough in that area. At half-time we talked about being more clinical holding onto the ball and eventually we got over towards the end.

“We had some opportunities out there but so did Montpellier, so it was an even enough match really.”

Montpellier boss Fabien Galthie was happy with his side’s performance and said he had no problems with the late penalty award by referee Dave Pearson – a decision that incensed the home crowd.

“You have to be fair and I think in the last 20 minutes it was attack against defence,” he admitted afterwards.

“Leinster had possession, they didn’t lower their rhythm, they played in a methodical and structured manner. They didn’t put us in too much difficulty but they made us retreat and retreat and made us foul. It wasn’t stolen.”

Montpellier captain Ouedraogo added: “It’s mixed between disappointment and pride.

“Pride because I had the impression that we gave everything, disappointment that we didn’t win, but I think at the end we were suffering, and obviously against a team like Leinster we paid dearly.

“I don’t know if we could have done any better.”