Para returns to make Clermont a stronger force

Defeat at home to Clermont last weekend has prompted Anthony Foley to make four changes to his staring side, but his opposite number has also made four changes.

Arguably, Clermont are even stronger this weekend, French scrum-half Morgan Parra installed straight into the No 9 shirt after his recovery from a shoulder injury.

Once again we’ll see Samoan No 8 and man of the match from Thomond Park, Fritz Lee, starting and the powerful ball carrier, who finished as the pantomime villain after a clash with Munster skipper Peter O’Mahony, says he hopes he is not a target of Munster’s ire tomorrow .

“Target me, I hope that’s not their plan. I’ll just do what I can and hopefully my play can influence others as well. I hope not. All I can do is prepare myself pretty well. There is a lot of pressure on my plate as well, I expect that from them. I like that, I like to work under pressure,” said the 26-year-old who initially moved to Clermont on a short term contract.

As well as Parra’s return, Clermont have called on All-Black winger Zac Guilford, Alexandre Lapandry replaces Julien Bonnaire on the openside and tight head Davit Zirakashvili swaps with Clement Ric, who starts on the bench.

But in Lee’s eyes the key ingredient is the return of Parra who will make his 53rd appearance in Europe tomorrow and having that steadying influence there is a massive rock for the Clermont pack.

“He is pretty important. It is interesting he is playing this week. He didn’t play in a couple of weeks maybe even a month with injuries. But he is a class player and fits nicely with what we are trying to achieve.

“Rado (Ludovic Radosavljevic) was playing well as well so there is a lot of competition in the half backs which is great for us and the coach’s as well. Morgan adds a lot of leadership to the team around the park,” said Lee.

Defeat for Munster tomorrow will all but end their hopes of qualifying for the quarter-finals of the Champions Cup. It would be their second defeat, with another daunting away trip to Saracens to follow in January.

But delivering the killer blow to Munster’s European aspirations doesn’t concern Lee. In such a tight group, with Sarries also still to play at the Stade Marcel Michelin in the final pool game, points are currency for Clermont.

“I don’t think we are worried about (knocking out) Munster, we are trying to work on winning this game so we can be comfortable in the table because it’s pretty tight with Saracens as well.

“They need to win this game and we definitely have to win this game. If we lose this game it will be tough for us. Munster will bring a hungry and tougher edge, so we expect a very big game from them.

“I came here for three months and I am going to be staying here for the next three years. It is funny how life turns out and it is pretty interesting that one phone call while I was in New Zealand ended up with me staying in France. I never thought I would have gone and played for Clermont. I did know about Munster’s tradition before I moved to play for Clermont. When I was in New Zealand I had watched a couple of game of them – they are a pretty good side and they are one of the top, top teams in Europe and I have seen them when I was at school, so it is pretty unreal I am playing against them again on Sunday.”