A perfect 10 for boss Leo

SEXTON INSPIRES TRY BLITZ AT REC TO DELIGHT OF BOSS

Bath 7 Leinster 64

LEO CULLEN believes Leinster are benefiting from a ‘rejuvenated’ Johnny Sexton heading into the Champions Cup knock-out stages.

And skipper Sexton insists the province can be happy that they did all that they could to secure their place in the last 16 after the nightmare Montpellier walkover.

The Blues scored a whopping 23 tries in six days to secure their place in the last 16 – backing up last Sunday’s record 13-try victory over Montpellier with 10 more against a weakened Bath at the Rec.

Sexton looked sharp on his first start since Ireland’s victory over the All Blacks in mid-november.

He was on board for eight of his province’s tries against the Premiership’s basement club – including three in four minutes in the third quarter.

“You can see it in him, he’s sort of rejuvenated,” Cullen (below) said. “We’re the beneficiaries and Ireland as well, to a certain extent, after missing out on the Lions – as hard as that was for him.

“It’s phenomenal really, a 36-year-old. Age is definitely just a number in his case.

“His mind is still as sharp as ever. The cross-field kick for Jimmy and even just the awareness of them being a winger down. Lots of good stuff.

“The two Byrnes pushing him on is no harm, too.”

Leinster took 15 minutes to get going, needing strong defensive work keeping Bath at bay. But the hosts lost key back row operators Josh Bayliss and Sam Underhill to head injuries and once Cullen’s men hit their stride they were unstoppable again. Winger Jimmy O’brien made history as the first Leinster player to score four tries in a European fixture. The 25-year-old was outstanding in defence and attack – his 16th and 76th minute scores topping and tailing the try-fest. He was also denied an early score when Jordan Larmour held back Bath centre Max Clark as they contested the loose ball. “Jimmy scored his four tries but some of his defensive work as well was phenomenal,” said Cullen. “That builds on last week, sort of stepping up to this next level and it’s really pleasing.”

For Sexton, there was satisfaction in another big team performance, even if Leinster are still finding their rhythm.

“We’ve done everything we can in this group,” he said.

“We played three games and won all three – we know what happened with the Montpellier game, so we’re delighted with the five points and onto the next round.”

A large Leinster contingent cheered their team off at halftime having watched them rack up five tries.

It was the same late on after O’brien’s long chase of Larmour’s kick pushed the try count into double-digits.

“It’s brilliant to have people back,” said Sexton. “We haven’t had them back in Ireland the last few weeks, only 5,000.

“So it’s great now that some of the restrictions are lifted.” BATH: Try: Clark. Con: Bailey. LEINSTER: Tries: O’brien 4, van der Flier, Larmour, Frawley, Porter, Keenan, Sheehan Cons: Sexton 5, Byrne 2