French lessons learned, says Johnny Sexton

He didn't fully realise it at the time but Johnny Sexton was a changed man upon his return from France.

Back in 2013, the Ireland out-half made the shock decision to up sticks and left Leinster to savour life in the Top14 with Racing 92.

The then-27-year-old had helped deliver Leinster to three Heineken Champions Cup titles so the switch to Paris surprised the rugby world.

The French connection comes up annually ahead of Ireland-France clashes and Sexton was in a reflective mood at yesterday’s press conference and was asked about how the experience helped him to improve as a player.

What exactly did he learn to do and even more interestingly, what did he learn not to do?

"I was signed and I had some meetings with the president [Jacky Lorenzetti], and he said: 'I want you to change the culture and I want you to bring a winning mentality'," said Sexton, who will win his 111th cap on Saturday.

"And I went in all guns blazing and figured out that there wasn’t that many people there to do the same thing, whereas I should have gone back and tried to make friends first and build relationships, and it stood to me now.

"Like, when there are new guys coming into the environment here you need to build relationships with people and Andy [Farrell] is big on that.

"So it was a good eye-opener for me, and at least then when you’re coming from a good place in terms of standards, at least you’ve got a basis to work off with someone."

Sexton’s two-year stint was hampered by injury and didn’t work out as planned; meanwhile Leinster also struggled, relatively, without their main man and a return transfer was arranged.

But lessons were learned, even if it wasn’t so obvious back then.

He added: "I didn’t think at the time but I remember meeting up with