Clermont are tough, says Rhys

RHYS RUDDOCK believes there is a lot more to Clermont Auvergne’s game than brute strength.

Leinster go toe-to-toe with the French side on Sunday in their European Champions Cup semifinal, and Ruddock says that if the Blues arrive in Lyon looking to match Clermont for physicality, they’ll be punished in other areas.

‘Always playing French sides, it (physicality) is part of the game where they pride themselves on, and probably where they see a strength of theirs,’ says Ruddock (right).

‘Especially when you go and play them in France, they back themselves up front and will target us there. We’re well aware of that, but Clermont are capable of a lot more than that.

‘They’ve got so many options and threats that I don’t think it will just come down to that forward battle, but being able to compete with them physically and get on top in areas up front will definitely make for a solid platform for us to play and bring the battle in the rest of the game.

‘They’re obviously a really welldrilled team and it’s hard to pick apart one specific flaw or something that we can really (target)... we have to be clever and get the tactics right because they’re really strong across the board.’

This will be the first taste of European knockout rugby in France for many of Leinster’s young squad, so Ruddock admits there is an onus on the more experienced heads to lead by example.

‘We have enough experience in the coaching staff and the player group of guys who have played in the big games in Europe, and won in big games in Europe,’ he adds.

‘That is massive and I think something that you need when you’re going to play such an inform team in such a tough environment, on such a big stage.’