Captain Sexton vows to lead Leinster to final

JOHNNY SEXTON says the battle to reach a European final makes getting there more precious, as he and Leinster prepare for the freewheeling Scarlets in Lansdowne Road today. Sexton is a three-time European Cup winner with the province, with the victories all coming inside his first five years as a professional. Six years on, he is determined to return to that stage, and he will have the added responsibility of captaining the team. In a surprise move, Leo Cullen has asked Sexton to lead the side, rather than Isa Nacewa, who has led the team all term. Cullen said Nacewa had been unwell earlier in the week, but also acknowledged that Sexton’s proximity closer to the action and therefore referee Romain Poite, was also a consideration. ‘When you are in the midst of winning and with the previous success that we have had, you think it will be plain sailing every year,’ said Sexton yesterday. ‘Every year you win it, you think it is easier and easier but every year you don’t have it, it seems to get harder and harder. It’s a tough competition to win, especially with the French teams over the last number of years taking it seriously and wanting to win it. ‘We want to get back to a final. That’s our main focus at the minute.’ As expected, Luke

McGrath failed to recover from the ankle injury he suffered in Leinster’s quarter-final victory over Saracens. His place in the side is taken by Jamison Gibson-Park, and his inclusion, as well as the selection of Scott Fardy at blindside flanker, means there is no place in the squad for James Lowe, as a result of competition rules limiting the number of non-EU squad players to two. Sexton did admit that his communication with the match official will be important, especially given his tendency to holler at match officials. ‘When I’m not captain you don’t have that responsibility of talking to the ref but at times in the heat of battle it can get on top of you,’ he conceded. ‘You probably saw that in the Saracens game I probably let myself down a bit in terms of getting a bit angry or agitated by some the stuff that is happening. ‘Or maybe it’s a decision I see because I am close to it or I know it’s wrong. It’s just about biting your tongue. Now I’ve a responsibility to speak to him in the right way.’ Munster have left Simon Zebo out of their starting team to play Racing 92 in the other semi-final in Bordeaux tomorrow. Zebo continues to struggle with a hip injury he sustained in their win over Toulon. However, Keith Earls has made his expected return from his knee injury.