Two tries from Irish international prop Cian Healy helped Leinster maintain their remarkable home record against French opposition in the Heineken Cup and move five points clear at the top of Pool 2.

The 20-13 defeat in France a week earlier had been Leinster’s only blemish to date in Pool 2, but new coach Joe Schmidt knew that his team needed to turn the tables on his old club if they were to keep their grip on top spot and edge nearer to a quarter-final spot.

The ‘Fever in the Aviva’ re-match certainly appealed to the fans, who turned out in record numbers. The official attendance of 44,873 was the highest for a Heineken Cup Pool match in Ireland and just short of the UK best of 45,892 that saw Leinster beat Saracens at Wembley Stadium two rounds earlier.

With Jamie Heaslip and Healy restored to their starting pack Leinster got off to an explosive start and it took only seven minutes before Healy bustled his way over from close range after successive waves of Leinster players had been held up.

Johnny Sexton added the simple conversion and Schmidt was smiling. But Clermont aren’t French champions for nothing and they came thundering back into the equation and forced the home side to desperately defend their line after a flash of genius by Benoit Baby had opened up the defence.

Leinster rode that storm and went on to dominate the final 15 minutes of the half, deserving much more than the single Sexton penalty they got for their efforts. However, they didn’t have to wait long to improve their hold on proceedings.
Nathan Hines was unlucky to have been adjudged to have been held up by opposite number Thibault Privat as he surged across the line, but then Healy bagged his second try moments later to put in complete command.

Sexton kicked the conversion and then added the extras to a Sean O’Brien try as Clermont threatened to implode with some lose passing and limp defending in their 22. A Brock James pass missed three team mates and gave Leinster a five metre line-out which Heaslip took quickly to pave the way for the try.

That left the home side with 30 minutes to hunt down the bonus point score, but the only other points in the game came from a driving line-out from the Frenchmen which was converted into a score by wing Napolioni Nalaga.