Image source, Getty Images

The yellow-and-blue flags are swirling in the grandstand behind the Leinster posts.

Camille Lopez's strike was sweet as a nut and as straight and central as the Greenwich meridian.

Clermont are more than a converted score clear.

Clermont are up to within five metres. Leinster under intense pressure. Moran Parra pulling the strings.

The ball breaks free out of contact.

But Leinster are not out of the woods yet. Clermont are camped on their 22m with the ball in hand.

Image source, AFP

The French crowd have got reacquainted with their vocal cords.

Their team have rediscovered their scrummage gears as well. Leinster are sent into reverse. Fitz Lee picks and go and Clermont stream through midfield.

There was a forward pass in there though from Remi Lamerat.

Isa Nacewa collides with David Strettle in midair.

It was lucky that he was doing a good impression of going for the ball or he could have been walking.

The Leinster captain has already got a yellow card in the first half for pulling Strettle back off the ball.

Morgan Parra holds his nerve and keeps his concentration. Clermont were looking at a two-point deficit and a blown lead.

They are now back to six clear.

Anyone's game from here.

Flanker Dan Leavy is found guilty on video review.

He tied up Rougerie for a couple of seconds with the ball nowhere on the scene. It looks like he was holding onto his bootlaces at the end.

No try for Leinster. Instead we head back for a very kickable Clermont penalty.

Morgan Parra is setting his sights.

Image source, Rex Features

Dan Leavy plunges over!

It was a length-of-the-field counter from Leinster, but there is a question over whether Aurelien Rougerie was held to create the hole which Fergus McFadden burst through just outside his own 22m.

Clermont need to change things. Fast.

But I'm not sure that is the change I would have made.

Peceli Yato - who has been fantastic so far - and Benjamin Kayser have been taken off.

Leinster are knocking on the door once more.

Clermont are pinned back in their own 22m.

Another penalty for the Irish side, this time for offside. It is eminently kickable.

Sexton is going to go for the posts. If he lands it the Clermont lead is down to three. It is slimming faster than a flyweight on weigh-in day.

Image source, Rex Features

A superb cover tackle from Luke McGrath who snares the galloping Peceli Yato as the Clermont flanker hammered down the whitewash and towards the tryline.

That might be vital in the post-match debrief.

A change at hooker as the free-range Sean Cronin comes on for Richardt Strauss for Leinster.

We've got a ball game now. The ghosts of campaigns and close calls past are whirling around the Clermont psyche.

Image source, Rex Features

A penalty advantage to Leinster but it could be more!

Garry Ringrose almost through... Robbie Henshaw hoovers up his off-load... the ball is flicked wide...

There were men over, but Nick Abendanon is up out of the defence on a death-or-glory rush and manages to hustle Leinster into a mistake.

No matter. Sexton is going to take on the shot at goal. Should be three from bang in front.

Joey Carbery steps and jinks through some heavy traffic.

Leinster are up to the Clermont 22m.

Image source, Rex Features

The crowd have gone quiet, Leinster are dominating possession and Clermont have not had that furious energy around the breakdown and in defence in the first half.

Is that mojo shifting?

Image source, Getty Images

Morgan Parra had a kick late in the second half to put Clermont 18-0 clear.

The French side's lead looks a whole lot less secure now.

Nothing coming.

Johnny Sexton is going to take the shot at goal.

It is pretty much a gimme...