Isa Nacewa convinced Clermont agony will be making of Leinster

Isa Nacewa is convinced Leinster’s young guns can only benefit from their Champions Cup semi-final heartbreak last month as they try and go at least one step further in this season’s Guinness PRO12 play-offs.

Leinster play a home semi-final against in-form Scarlets at the RDS Arena in eight days, a first return to knockout rugby since their bid to reach this weekend’s European finale came up agonisingly short in a 27-22 defeat to Clermont Auvergne in Lyon.

It was a setback very much their own doing after a disastrous start saw them concede two early tries and trail 15-3 at half-time as captain Nacewa was sent to the sin bin in the eighth minute.