Clermont Auvergne v Leinster, Heineken Cup

Skrela ruled out of semi-final

ESPNscrum Staff

Clermont Auvergne will be without David Skrela on Sunday © Getty Images Enlarge

Clermont Auvergne will be without French international David Skrela for their Heineken Cup semi-final showdown with Leinster on Sunday.

Skrela suffered a thigh injury in their quarter-final with Saracens and left the field after just three minutes. Brock James took his place at fly-half and helped guide his side into the semi-final with 17 points from the boot.

Skrela will now undergo surgery but Clermont coach Vern Cotter is optimistic that the fly-half will be fit for the Top 14 Orange run-in.

Ahead of the semi-final, James and Skrela's fellow Clermont team-mate and skipper Aurelien Rougerie has emphasised the need for calm from his charges while also earmarking certain danger men within the Leinster ranks.

"Even before last weekend's Top 14 game against Montpellier we had already had a quick look at Leinster's quarter-final against Cardiff Blues," Rougerie said. "We already knew a fair bit about this team because we played them last year during the pool stage.

"They have quality players everywhere but their biggest strengths are probably the back row and their backs who are very fast - it will be a huge challenge to face Rob Kearney, Brian O'Driscoll and Gordon D'Arcy. And one thing that is sure is that their experience could work against us and they are so used to these games and if we are leading the game they won't panic.

"They showed this ability in last year's final against Northampton. It is a huge strength when you know how vitally important the details are in a Heineken Cup semi-final."

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