Cudmore glad to have 'inside knowledge'
Clermont Auvergne lock Jamie Cudmore believes his team will need any inside information they can get to overturn defending champions Leinster in Sunday’s Heineken Cup semi-final at the Stade Chaban Delmas (4pm).
Clermont will be looking to their lock Nathan Hines, formerly of Leinster, to provide an insight into his old team while Head Coach Vern Cotter will hope to outfox his former Clermont colleague Joe Schmidt.
"We need to beat the current champions and so it is good to have a bit of inside knowledge coming from Nathan Hines,” Cudmore told ercrugby.com.
“That always helps, as does knowing Joe Schmidt a little bit, although I'm sure Leinster will be ready for us as well."
Despite being one of the most feared opponents in the tournament over the past number of years, Clermont have never before made it to a Heineken Cup semi-final.
The Top 14 outfit came through a tough Pool featuring Leicester Tigers and Ulster before laying down a marker with a 22-3 triumph over Saracens in Vicarage Road at the quarter-final stage.
Cudmore recognises the club’s achievement in reaching the semi-finals but insists they are still a long way from their ultimate goal.
"It's huge for the club to be in the semi-finals but, as I've said to the other guys, we've got to stay humble because we're still a long, long way from our goal. We realise there is a lot more work to do.
“We've all got the same thing in mind, but let's hope we can get to the final.”
