Johnny Sexton on why Leinster did not kick the ball out for half-time

It was a crucial call that cost Leinster seven points, and potentially the final.

Leinster were 10-3 up and the clock had just ticked past 40 minutes. Leinster had a ruck just inside their half and the opportunity to go into the break, in the Champions Cup final, seven points clear. Leinster scrum-half Luke McGrath then opted to keep the ball in play. He put up a box-kick that Saracens claimed and the half raged on. Within four minutes, Sean Maitland was gliding over for a converted try that made it 10-10. https://twitter.com/patmccarry/status/1127254548131790854 In the second half, Saracens scored 10 unanswered points to claim their third European Cup victory. Post-match, Johnny Sexton explained what the thinking was behind Leinster looking to keep the ball in play. He commented: [caption id="attachment_200790" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Luke McGrath with a box kick under pressure from Maro Itoje of Saracens during the Champions Cup Final. (Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile)[/caption] Liam Williams turned Garry Ringrose over with a great tackle and a borderline poach and Saracens survived. That would be the closest Leinster got to breaching the Sarries defence. "Those 20 minutes, either side of half-time, were crucial," the Leinster captain mused. "They are the things, in hindsight, that you'd love to change but you can't."