Cruel blow for Johnny Sexton but fairytale ending still in sight

Sexton’s career might yet come with the most dramatic of send-offs but it looks like his Leinster career may have faded away without anyone realising it at the time

CRUEL BLOW: Johnny Sexton may have played his last game for Leinster. Pic: INPHO/Billy Stickland

Johnny Sexton thought of Ronan O’Gara as he drank in the scenes at the Aviva Stadium last Saturday week after Ireland had secured their Grand Slam and the players and staff got to share the moment with a stubbornly full stadium and their families.

The Ireland captain had wrestled sole ownership of the all-time Six Nations points scoring record from his old rival and friend earlier that same evening but he hadn’t thought of him at the time. Not until that valedictory lap of honour.