SEX BOMB Ireland star Johnny a doubt for Six Nations after injury
JOHNNY SEXTON faces a race against time to be fit for the Six Nations after being crocked in Leinster’s seven-try thrashing of Northampton.
The Ireland star suffered suspected ligament damage to his right knee in yesterday’s Champions Cup showdown between the respective leaders of the Premiership and Pro14.
Billed as a clash of the titans, it turned out rather differently as rampant Leinster put Saints to the sword.
Northampton boss Chris Boyd said it was a “reality check” for his young side and admitted the scale of the loss had been “painful”.
It might have been even worse had Sexton not been forced off with the second half just five minutes old.
“Johnny has taken a bang to the knee and we’ll see how much damage has been done,” Blues boss Leo Cullen confirmed before sending his playmaker for scans.
The Six Nations kicks off in just over seven weeks with Ireland starting at home to Scotland 24 hours before England take on France in Paris.
Leinster made light of Sexton’s loss, scoring their bonus point try through Cian Healy at the end of the move in which he was injured.
The fly-half’s replacement, Ross Byrne, quickly added a fifth before fellow super subs Luke McGrath and Ed Byrne bagged late scores.
This was some statement performance by the four-time champions and Boyd said: “There are not many sides in the Premiership that can step it up like that.
“It’s a learning curve for us that there’s another level of physicality and fitness required if we’re going to compete with teams like Leinster.”
The Blues tore into Saints from the off, with Jordan Larmour unstoppable.
The full-back scorched clear to make the opening try for James Lowe after just three minutes and although Ahsee Tuala pegged back the scores with one of his own, Larmour powered clear again to put Rhys Ruddock over.
Dan Biggar kicked two penalties as Saints briefly led on the half-hour, but when Leinster’s pack went over for Andrew
Porter to score after
38 minutes, the writing was on the wall.
Boyd added:
“There’s three, four or five sides who can take their game to Test match level – Leinster are one of them.”
PETER O’MAHONY piled the misery on Saracens as Munster ran out 10-3 winners over last season’s Euro champs. While the hosts only managed two scores – a converted try from O’Mahony and a JJ Hanrahan penalty – they never looked in trouble.
John Cooney’s late penalty gave Ulster a 25-24 win over Harlequins.