Cotter has faith in quality replacements

Clermont Auvergne coach Vern Cotter yesterday played down the loss of his captain Aurelien Rougerie and flanker Gerhard Vosloo for today’s Heineken Cup semi-final.

Centre Rougerie has failed to recover from a hamstring injury picked up in last weekend’s 59th successive home win at Stade Marcel Michelin when Top 14 champions Toulouse were put to the sword.

South Africa Vosloo has also been ruled out with a hamstring injury, but the extent of the squad which Cotter has assembled is illustrated by the quality of the replacements.