GUINNESS PRO12: Playmaker Jonny Sexton will not be '˜targeted'ays LesKiss

The flyhalf has been left battered and bruised this season as teams have deliberately gone out of their way - sometimes illegally - to target him.

Ulster meet Leinster on Saturday in the Guinness PRO12 in Belfast but director of rugby Les Kiss said they would not be targeting the outhalf.

“We have looked at what he can do and there is no dobut he can hurt you.

“But we have to look at ways of narrowing the options, narrow what space he has to work with.

“His kicking abilities will challenge our back three but the options that he comes out of the line with, he does that Brumbie play or the loop play quite a lot so you have to be aware.

“We understand what he can do!”

Kiss added: “I would not say target. I know that’s been mooted at international level but I just think it would be a dangerous thing to do if he is there and you’ve got Te’o outside him and Van der Flier inside him and Ringrose dancing around the edges.”

The contest between Sexton and Ulster outhalf Paddy Jackson promises to be interesting, although Kiss as keen to take the focus away from that as a battle.

“Of course it will be a nice tussle but it always comes back to a simple thing - a number 10 can be so much better if one through eight are doing their job.

“It will all start up front,” added Kiss.