Schmidt braced for ‘hot reception’ in Clermont cauldron

LEINSTER head coach Joe Schmidt admits he will have mixed feelings when he returns to Stade Marcel Michelin to face former club Clermont Auvergne in Saturday’s Heineken Cup Pool Two clash.

Schmidt was on the French club’s coaching staff for three years, climaxing with Clermont landing their first national title last season, although going out to Leinster in Dublin in a 29-28 Heineken Cup quarter-final defeat.

He now takes his unbeaten Leinster side to France with a four-point advantage over his old employers but when asked if he was looking forward to the return, Schmidt replied: “Yes and no.