Preparation key again for Clermont

Clermont forwards coach Jonno Gibbes said they have spent all week preparing for a Munster backlash but he doesn’t expect the level of celebrations by his players at full time to be a factor.

The former Leinster forwards coach said their was no triumphalism in the way Clermont players celebrated at the end — it was more out of relief and the sense of achievement.

“They put a hell of a lot of work into that game — the preparation, getting them to change a few habits and stay behind longer and do more homework and doing boring stuff, like going through walk-throughs.

“That is challenging them and they invested in the game. Their preparation was great.

“Their reaction at the end of the game, obviously we had beaten a very good opponent, we had done it away from home but also there was a sense of reward from what the players had put into the week and that is probably the reaction,” said Gibbes.

He said that they probably had put more preparation into that match than any other.

“In the Top 14, the players know who they are playing against — it is not as thorough, it has just as much detail just not as thorough.

“That is because they understand who they are playing, they understand what is required. With the forwards, what Frank Azema tried to lead as a group was what was needed to win that specific game last Saturday and that specific circumstance, and that was the preparation that was tweaked around that we have to do again this week.”

He said that they know Munster are capable of a backlash and they fully expect one at Stade Marcel Michelin on Sunday and that is why their preparation this week is as thorough as when they headed to Thomond Park.

“They will be disappointed with that outcome. It happened to be at home as well so that hurts. The back-to-back games are crucial so it is four-one the score.

“Of course they are going to try and come back and throw something different at us. Try and win a couple of more things than we do and that is the challenge,” added the Kiwi.