Sexton rues Clermont headstart

Leinster number ten Jonathan Sexton was left regretting the fact that Clermont opened up a 15-0 lead in their Champions Cup semi-final.

Les Jaunards went on to win 27-22 to make their third final in five years, with the Top 14 giants still in search of a first title.

Scores from Peceli Yato and David Strettle put Clermont in control, and veteran fly-half Sexton admitted that early advantage proved to be of huge importance.

“We still felt we could have won it at half-time. In the first half we made a lot of errors and gave them some scores that we needed to make them work harder for in matches like this,” admitted Sexton.

“We gave them a head start, 15 points, and you can’t do that in a semi-final. We are gutted, we gave everything and we’d trained so hard for this.

“But we were beaten by an impressive side, they have been impressive all year, and we have to take our hats off and say we weren’t good enough. We have to go again, and we’ll be stronger.

“We’ve got a young squad and only a couple of old heads left like Isa and me. We don’t have many more days left and we’ve got to urge these young players to not think that they’ve got loads of chances at it – you have got to take every one like it’s your last one

“It’s a new feeling for us losing in a European semi-final – I’ve never felt that before and it is a hard thing to take. We were one step away from a final against the best team in Europe.”

Sexton also recognised the performance of his opposite man Camille Lopez, who landed two late drop goals to put daylight between the two sides.

“Two drop goals in the heat of the moment. I was questioning the last one because if we had charged it down we could have gone the whole way, but fair play to him, he had a good game,” said Sexton.

“All the neutrals will want Clermont to finally go and do it. I said to them afterwards that hopefully it is there time.”