We have tools to shock champions, insists Clermont’s Cotter

Clermont Auvergne coach Vern Cotter insists his team are not running scared of defending champions Leinster.

The French giants are targeting their first appearance in a Heineken Cup final after thumping English champions Saracens in the last eight. That has set up a semi-final showdown with cup holders Leinster — in their fourth successive semi-final — in Bordeaux on Sunday.

But Clermont’s straight-talking Kiwi coach, wanted by England and the All Blacks in the past six months, is adamant his team have the ammunition to shoot down the champions from Dublin.

Cotter said: “We are aware of the Leinster strength. It is going to be their fourth Heineken Cup semi-final in a row and that will make them very confident.

“But we’re not going to spend the week watching them on video and talking about their game. We have enough on our plate with our rugby. We have the weapons to put them in trouble if we play to our strengths.”

Leinster have dashed Clermont’s hopes in Europe for the past two seasons, though Cotter’s men, French champions in 2010, were the only team to inflict defeat upon the province on their way to lifting the trophy last May.

Cotter said: “We have improved this season. We have more experience, we can adapt our rugby to our opponents and our goal will be to deprive Leinster of ball.

“Whatever is going to happen it will be a beautiful game for European rugby between two spectacular teams. The victory will come from the tiniest detail, a stroke of genius or a bounce,” he added.

“Perhaps our crowd can provide the contribution to influence the players’ performance, especially at the beginning of the game to push them into the battle.”

Meanwhile, European Rugby Cup have confirmed that an Irish victory in the final at Twickenham on May 19 will guarantee Connacht a place in next season’s Heineken Cup.

However, if Edinburgh or Clermont Auvergne win the final, then the 24th place in the 2012/13 Heineken Cup will go to Wasps, provided they retain their Aviva Premiership status for next season.

* Reports suggest Leinster’s New Zealand born back Isa Nacewa is prepared to extend his current contract with the province by a further year until the end of the 2013-14 season.