Leinster boss Joe Schmidt says preventing Clermont earning a bonus point was crucial in Saturday's win.
Leinster boss praises defence during Clermont victory
Leinster head coach Joe Schmidt says preventing Clermont earning a losing bonus point was more important than bagging one themselves from their 24-8 win in Dublin on Saturday.
Tries from Cian Healy (two) and Sean O'Brien did most of the damage for the Irish province as they moved five points clear at the top of Pool Two ahead of next month's final pool matches.
They did miss out on a bonus point themselves but Schmidt said: "The win is particularly satisfying because we stopped them getting a bonus point, so in the head to head we are 5-4 in front.
"This week we were up for it more. We really had the bit between our teeth and were charging at them. It was a bit of trench warfare and great footy from both sides.
"We did go a little flat in the last 20 minutes but I think the intensity we brought, particularly in the first 20 minutes of the first and second halves, might have drained us a little and we just lost our shape."
Back rowers
Commenting on the performance of his back row unit of O'Brien, Shane Jennings and Jamie Heaslip, Schmidt added: "Immense. It was always going to be a crucial area for us.
"I thought we might come under pressure at the set piece, particularly reading in the French media that they were going to deny us ball.
"A lot of what we worked on was getting our back row into the game and putting a bit of pressure on their ball, put pressure on them defensively."
Number eight Heaslip, whose participation was in doubt due to an ankle injury, said: "When you get an opportunity to start you have to take it because there's a lot of quality in the squad.
"You've just got to put the effort in because you know that you're playing for your place. We're extremely passionate about what we do every time we pull on the shirt and it's a pretty happy dressing room in there."
Blunt
Clermont Auvergne scored a penalty from Morgan Parra and a late try from Napolioni Nalaga, and their head coach Vern Cotter was blunt in his assessment of their overall display.
"That was a very poor performance, to turn up here and to perform poorly, we were dominated in every sector of the game from start to finish. They took us to pieces," the New Zealander admitted.
"We got dominated physically. We couldn't get go-forward ball. We couldn't put several phases of play going together and put them in any real danger.
"We scored a try at the end, but that was only because I think the game was over and done with."
With Clermont now five points behind Leinster in the standings, Cotter conceded that it will be really difficult for his side to advance to the knockout stages next month.
"Leinster applied a lot of pressure and quite frankly, looking at it objectively, it is a game we needed and really got ripped apart," he added. "We will use this game as a lesson.
"We have to move forward. It is disappointing and I think we will put it behind us as soon as possible."
