The 34-year-old fly-half, who has played in all four of the province’s European final wins, marked his first home game as Ireland captain by scoring all his country’s points at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin via a ninth-minute try that he converted and four penalties.

Sexton played in only three of Leinster’s six victories in Pool 1 earlier this term, notching 23 points, but he seems certain to start their quarter-final against Saracens at the Aviva on April 4 in what is a repeat of the 2019 final which Leinster lost 20-10.

Up against him could be Saracens centre Nick Tompkins, who made an impressive debut for Wales in their 42-0 win over Italy in Cardiff on Saturday, initially as a head injury assessment replacement in the first half and then as a 52nd minute substitute.

The 24-year-old, who made four appearances as the English club finished second in Pool 4, marked his Test bow by storming through the Italian defence for a try in the 59th minute.

Equally impressive for Wales was fly-half Dan Biggar, who guided Northampton Saints to a Heineken Champions Cup quarter-final at Exeter Chiefs on April 4 with 68 points in five games, making him the competition’s second top scorer so far.

The 30-year-old was again lethal with the boot for his country on Saturday, kicking two conversions and three penalties for a tally of 13 points, but he also showed his creative side with a spectacular through-the-legs pass to Josh Adams for Wales’ second try.

Another fly-half to star on the opening weekend of the Six Nations Championship was Toulouse’s Romain Ntamack, who converted all three of France’s tries and kicked a penalty as they defeated England 24-17 in Paris on Sunday.

The 20-year-old, nominated for the EPCR European Player of the Year after scoring five tries as Toulouse topped Pool 5 and sealed a home Heineken Champions Cup quarter-final against Ulster Rugby on April 5, also created France’s first try with a neat inside pass.

Johnny Sexton underlined why he will be such a key player to Leinster Rugby’s hopes of a record-breaking fifth Heineken Champions Cup this season by leading Ireland to a 19-12 victory over Scotland in their opening Six Nations Championship match at the weekend.