Munster and Leinster both lost a fair few big games before winning more to be fair. And to be honest, I don't think it was any disgrace losing to Leinster perhaps the greatest European team there is by a whisker last season. Some of the matches in past years they simply lost to better sides and were not expected to win, however this season's losses are different to those.
This match was always going to be difficult for Clermont. They were bashed up mentally and physically from the Toulon match. Castres had a weeks rest while they were playing one of the toughest matches lost in a tough way. A similar thing happened last season after they lost to Leinster.
They picked up a few knocks from that match as well, Cudmore and Vosloo were ruled out and they gambled trying to get through this with a semi strength team normal starters Domingo, Hines and Brock James were deemed in need of a rest and left on the bench, which backfired. Parra took a knock as well in the match and is out of the New Zealand tour. Contrast this with Toulon, who would have had better morale and only made one enforced change from the final.
In fairness though, despite those missing players, the replacements were of the standard of French international Julien Pierre and All Black Mike Delany. They should have had enough depth and have a strong squad so it shouldn't have been an excuse. Vern Cotter has now said he will step down after not renewing his contract after next season.
On an unrelated note, I don't like the Top 14 having neutral semi finals when the teams who finished in the top 2 of the league should get home advantage as reward for their league place in my opinion.
