JONATHAN SEXTON’S TWO-YEAR stint in France came to an end after 74 minutes of tonight’s Top14 Barrages defeat to Stade Francais in Stade Jean Bouin.
The Ireland and Lions out-half, who has agreed a four-year contract with his native province Leinster, was again unable to spark his side in to life. Instead Stade Francais’ pack dominated the match, laying the platform for a 38 – 15 play-off drubbing.
Sexton trudged off with five points to his name from a conversion and penalty either side of half-time, meanwhile his opposite number Morne Steyn was completing a tour-de-force of 10 successful kicks at goal.
The Springbok converted Stade’s two first-half tries that looked to have put the game well beyond Racing before Maxime Machenaud poached a try for La Ciel et Bleu before the clock hit 40.
Jamie Roberts scored the only try of the second period, but Steyn had long since started the scoreboard ticking up an out of Racing’s reach.
Stade Francais’ reward for tonight’s dominant display is a semi-final clash with Toulon while Clermont await the winner of Toulouse v Oyonnax who play tomorrow afternoon.
