Clermont deserve great credit for the guts and character they displayed, especially after losing their two first-choice centres George Moala and Pierre Fouyssac in the first 26 minutes. They were dogged and connected for the most part in defence and with a bit more composure might have caused Leinster even more discomfort on the pitch and the scoreboard. Leinster’s review will be painful, eight lineouts that went astray, a lack of connection and accuracy in general play, and but for a dominant scrum, the unthinkable, losing, would have been a great deal closer.
James Ryan’s performance in general play was excellent – the lineout a mess – Jordie Barrett was one of the few Leinster players to demonstrate some composure and quality, Robbie Henshaw, Garry Ringrose and Max Deegan all carried with purpose, but it was very much solo enterprise for the most part. Andrew Porter had a superb game. Leinster’s halfbacks tried to inject some tempo, but they couldn’t match enterprise and execution.
The home side went up too many blind alleys looking to go wide too early without committing defenders. The space was in and around the breakdown, something that Leinster should have appreciated more often. They kicked when they should have run, run when they should have poked the ball in behind the visitors.
The game’s first try came about in bizarre fashion. A ricochet from a grubber kick ended up in the hands of Clermont centre Pierre Fouyssac and two rucks later wing Alvereti Ra.
