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Sexton has impressed in fits and starts for Racing Metro. Morgan Treacy/INPHO

Johnny Sexton's final year in Paris is one game away from ending in disaster

Premature exits in France and in Europe would spell a disappointing second season for Ireland’s number 10.

AT INTERNATIONAL LEVEL, he has conducted a bit of a freight train over the last two seasons but running concurrently to that period of Six Nations success has been Johnny Sexton’s comparatively mediocre tenure in France.

During the opening half of his first season he struggled – a 6-0 defeat away to Oyonnax was rock bottom – but his form improved as the campaign progressed and he eventually steered Racing Metro to an impressive away win in the Top 14 quarter-finals against Toulouse and a narrow defeat to Toulon in the final four.

Unfortunately, his second season was marred by concussion issues that kept him out for three months, and when he finally did he return, Racing were upset by Saracens in the quarter-finals as Sexton looked on injured from the bench.

He spoke honestly on Second Captains Live recently about how he would view his tenure in Paris if he didn’t lift the Top 14 this year.

That prospect is looking increasingly remote at the moment, with the Parisians only drawing 18-18 away to La Rochelle today, in a game that Sexton was on the bench for. That leaves Racing Metro one spot outside the playoff places with one round of the Top 14 to go.

They host Castres next weekend, who secured their survival today, so they might not have a whole lot to play for when they travel to Paris. But if Racing don’t win, or can only match the result of Bordeaux and Oyonnax, who travel to Toulouse and Toulon respectively, they will have to be content with merely a Champions Cup playoff place.

Granted, Racing are likely to sneak into the playoff quarter-finals, but the fact that they are limping into the most important stage of the season (one win in six league games) doesn’t say a lot for where the team is almost two full seasons after Sexton’s arrival.

2/1 odds that this Top 14 steward is actually Batista working his day job

Everything Leinster fans wanted to see from Ian Madigan at 10 this season was on show today

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    Mute philip ryan
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    May 16th 2015, 8:58 PM

    I’m dick of telling the blue hordes that this guy is a good outhalf but only a good outhalf. Yes he’s the best in Ireland at the moment. But not what the media promote him to be!

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    Mute TheHeathen
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    May 16th 2015, 9:12 PM

    You’re a dick?

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    Mute philip ryan
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    May 16th 2015, 9:52 PM

    Monumental typo!!

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    Mute Eoghan O'Sullivan
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    May 16th 2015, 11:25 PM

    http://intheloose.com/2015/05/13/the-over-rated-xv/ Phil I think you’d really enjoy this a lot.

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    Mute Eoghan O'Sullivan
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    May 16th 2015, 11:26 PM

    I sure did.

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    Mute Cian O Donoghue
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    May 16th 2015, 11:36 PM

    I agree with that article. With every position

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    Mute Aaron D
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    May 17th 2015, 12:05 AM

    One of the stupidest articles I’ve ever read. Thanks for the laugh anyway x

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    Mute Eoghan O'Sullivan
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    May 17th 2015, 12:30 AM

    Aaron which positions in particular did you not like?

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    Mute thomas
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    May 17th 2015, 7:17 AM

    U r 100 per cent right he is world class when team is in front foot but rubbish controlling a game when there under pressure

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    Mute TheHeathen
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    May 17th 2015, 10:37 AM

    One of the most ridiculous rugby articles ever. Shows you up if you post it or agree with it!

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    Mute yoman
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    May 17th 2015, 10:21 PM

    It’s a bit harsh on J Sexton. He is one of the best #10 but I ‘ve a real issue with his personality and perhaps his commitment. When he plays for Ireland it’s hard to criticize him but in France with Racing metro it looks like he doesn’t care at all. He might finds it hard to play abroad etc but he is a professional.

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    Mute Diarmuid
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    May 16th 2015, 11:38 PM

    One of the most over-hyped players in Irish rugby history

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    Mute Simon Croghan
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    May 17th 2015, 7:47 AM

    Must have forgotten the Heineken Cup Final comeback against Northampton ! Led by who ?

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    Mute John Molloy
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    May 17th 2015, 11:39 AM

    Why is that exactly? It comes as no surprise to most that both Leinster and Ireland have been at their best when he’s been playing. Anyone who knows the sport well rates him as one of the best in the world, both here at home and abroad. He’s won Pro12s, HECs, 6Ns and B&I Lions tours as the starting 10. I’m not sure how someone with his credentials can be considered to be overrated or, as others have opined, ordinary. I’m sensing a bit of trolling and some bias here today….

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    Mute J Wood
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    May 16th 2015, 9:45 PM

    One of Racing’s big problems is discipline. I’ve not watched a hell of a lot of their Top 14 games this season, mainly their Champions Cup games, but they gift a lot of points on penalties. They shipped 78 penalties throughout their European campaign, including 12 against Saracens in the quarter finals, and Sarries scored all of their points off penalties. In their last five Top 14 games before La Rochelle, they gave up 65 penalties, three yellows and one red card. I’ve not seen the stats on the La Rochelle game, but I know La Rochelle managed to nab the draw off a penalty. If they don’t get their discipline sorted, it won’t matter which half back is steering the ship.

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    Mute RobsonKeane
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    May 16th 2015, 11:45 PM

    He only signed for the money. He has been a disaster there and their fans are glad to see the back of him.

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    Mute John Molloy
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    May 17th 2015, 11:33 AM

    Total and utter nonsense.

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    Mute Rochelle
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    May 17th 2015, 12:22 PM

    Of course he signed for the money, he hardly signed for the rich history or trophy opportunities did he?

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    Mute yoman
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    May 17th 2015, 10:24 PM

    Rochelle we ALL signs for money. I mean you and I get pay from our employees. We have to give our best but he looks like he didn’t. I read enough French rugby articles and comments so I can say that French people clearly question his commitment and attitudes. I am one of them.

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    Mute Jimmy Murphy
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    May 17th 2015, 1:39 AM

    One player doesn’t make a team.

    No matter how many Leinster or Ireland fans proclaim that while he’s in France.

    He’ll soon be back and we will welcome him back with open arms and these comments won’t be said, typed or heard.

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    Mute Cian O Donoghue
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    May 17th 2015, 1:42 AM

    He will not be Leinsters Messiah…. without a world class scrum half inside him, he’s ordinary.

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    Mute James Dolan
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    May 17th 2015, 1:43 AM

    Works both ways.

    Can o Connor make him and the rest tick?

    Unsure.

    This boys a leader, a game changer and a self believer. You need to build around him.

    I just dont see Moc utilising him right.

    He’s a game changer but an on field dictator and leader.

    Any one remember Jimmy getting most games at 10 this year. .

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    Mute Mark De Brún
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    May 17th 2015, 3:56 AM

    I’ve seen Cian spew some utter tripe on this in my time but calling sexton ordinary and claiming he is somehow utterly dependant on his scrum half partners is a new low. He almost single handedly won the HCup final against Northampton. Also an integral part of the lions series win playing alongside a woefully out of form Mike Phillips. His composure and big match temperament when he came on for Contepomi in 09? So many examples….

    I just don’t understand the bitterness of some Munster fans.

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    Mute #COYBIB
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    May 17th 2015, 5:07 AM

    Nice one Cian, that would explain why he played so bad with Chris Whitaker, Chris Keane, Cillian Wills, Issac Boss, Eoin Reddan, John Cooney and Luke McGrath playing on the same team as him. Can you remove your overtly sexual attraction to Munster players for one minute and actually focus on an article that has nothing to do with them? I know you get seriously hard thinking about them and go to the42.ie for a bit of release, but give it a rest man.

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    Mute Oval Digest
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    May 17th 2015, 5:58 AM

    Probably could have left it at the first sentence there fella, that was more than enough to make the point!

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    Mute RobsonKeane
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    May 17th 2015, 8:25 AM

    Well said COYBIB. That’s a right clamping you dished out to Munster groupie Cian O’Donoghue there.

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    Mute Paddy Cullen
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    May 16th 2015, 11:51 PM

    Rugby isn’t a one man game, Sexto has been injured for a lot of this season but when he’s played he’s played well. Delighted to see him back in Ireland next season, although Leinster need more than him if they wish to mount a serious challenge for the Champion’s Cup next year.

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    Mute Dead Ball Browne
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    May 17th 2015, 12:46 AM

    Watched him last week and he was was very ordinary. …

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    Mute Rochelle
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    May 17th 2015, 12:28 PM

    I get the impression that he may have gone past his peak, he was a lot less impressive for Ireland in 2015 comapred to 2014 and seems to be fading as a force for Racing as well. Not ideal with the world cup around the corner.

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    Mute Pado Connor
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    May 17th 2015, 11:37 AM

    Ending in disaster? Exaggerated or what? Jesus I hope you never have to write about a train crash or a ferry sinking.

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