Johnny Sexton had a great response when he was asked who he’d like to play in the final

The Leinster out-half had the room in stitches with some of his post-match comments

Johnny Sexton enjoyed another successful outing as Leinster captain as he led the province to a Champions Cup final, scoring 18 points along the way.

Leinster battered Scarlets 38-16 and Sexton was at the heart of most of their best moves. He was faultless from the kicking tee and chipped in with his side’s fifth and final try.

He copped a heavy blow from Steff Evans near the end of the first half, moments before Fergus McFadden’s crucial try, and needed treatment from the physio as his own players made their way back beyond halfway. Such was his kicking form, and confidence, that he nailed a touchline conversion before jogging off for half-time oranges.

He returned for the second half and directed operations until he departed the scene with Leinster 38-9 up and with Scarlets well and truly flogged.

Sexton and Leinster are off to Bilbao and they will toast their success before many of them tune in for the second semi-final between Munster and Racing 92 in Bordeaux.

Following the match, Sexton was asked which of the two sides – one a former team and the other Leinster’s main interprovincial rival – he would like to face in the final.

“Do you expect me to answer that?!” he responded.

“I’ll just give whoever [I don’t mention] their team-talk now. 

“No, look, they are both quality teams. No matter who plays against us, it’s going to be a very tough game. Racing were champions a couple of years ago in France. 

“If we play against Munster it will be a very special occasion and game for all of us. Racing, that’s probably more so for me than the rest of us but it is going to be a tough game no matter who it is.”

Scarlets lock Tadhg Beirne was also asked if he had a preference for the clash in Bordeaux.

Despite the fact that he is Munster-bound in the summer, Beirne was honest enough to admit he did not care who won either way. “I’m still a Scarlets player,” he said, “and will be until the end of the season. We have a few weeks to go yet.”