McBryde: Johnny Sexton injury provides opportunity for others to step up

Robin McBryde has insisted that Sexton’s latest set-back offers an ideal opportunity for his would-be suitors to show that Leinster can remain a potent force in his absence

INJURY BLOW: Leinster’s Johnny Sexton was injured against Connacht. Pic: INPHO/James Crombie

He might be set for another extended spell on the treatment table, but Robin McBryde has insisted that Jonathan Sexton’s latest set-back offers an ideal opportunity for his would-be suitors to show that Leinster can remain a potent force in his absence.

Having previously been sidelined with a calf injury that ruled him out of Ireland’s autumn international success over Australia on November 19, Sexton was making his first provincial start in more than two months at the RDS last Sunday against Connacht. It was proving to be a seamless reintegration for the 37-year-old veteran, until a collision with opposition back-row Jarrad Butler led to him being withdrawn with a cheekbone injury in the 64th-minute.