Schmidt: Injuries have taken toll

Joe Schmidt has all but accepted the shift of power from Ireland to France after back-to-back Heineken Cup defeats by Clermont Auvergne.

Leinster’s head coach took little consolation from a dark day at the Aviva, although Fergus McFadden’s last minute try secured what could yet prove a priceless losing bonus point.

But with a target of 20 points in the pool, Schmidt is far from sure his charges will secure that figure in their desperate bid to make the knockout stages as one of two best pool runners-up.