Leinster boss Leo Cullen: 'We've used 47 players'

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen admits to being pleased with bagging a total of 29 out of 30 competition points in the opening six rounds of the United Rugby Championship (URC), not least given they’ve already used 47 players to date.

Leinster powered to a relatively convincing 24-6 victory over the Lions at Aviva Stadium, a result driven by a dominant second half where they gradually pulled away from their pesky South African opposition.

Sam Prendergast – fresh off an Emerging Ireland tour – slotted an early penalty before adding another in the 32nd minute to retake the lead after two penalties from Lions’ Kade Wolhuter.

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The real separation came in the second half, with the man of the match Caelan Doris crossing the line in the 66th minute, followed by a penalty try in the 89th after Lions’ Jarod Cairns saw yellow for a late infringement. Prendergast’s reliable boot added to the lead and Leinster ultimately eased to victory in the final stages of the contest.

“If you wind the clock back six weeks and told us we’ll get 29 points, we’d have been delighted,” said Cullen. “With 20 minutes to go, you’d love to push on and get the bonus but … we’ve used a good few players, like 47 players, that’s a big chunk of players, a lot of young guys. Some great experience over the past six weeks.”

United Rugby Championship

P

W

L

D

PF

PA

PD

BP T

BP-7

BP

Total

1

Leinster

6

6

0

0

29

2

Glasgow

6

4

2

0

23

3

Bulls

5

4

1

0

19

4

Lions

5

4

1

0

18

5

Connacht

6

3

3

0

18

6

Scarlets

6

3

2

1

16

7

Ulster

6

3

3

0

16

8

Cardiff Rugby

6

3

3

0

16

9

Sharks

5

3

2

0

15

10

Edinburgh

6

2

4

0

13

11

Benetton

6

2

3

1

13

12

Munster

6

2

4

0

12

13

Stormers

5

2

3

0

10

14

Ospreys

6

2

4

0

10

15

Dragons RFC

6

1

5

0

7

16

Zebre

6

1

5

0

7

It’s a remarkable figure given they’re just six rounds into the domestic competition.  Many professional sides’ squads extend to just 40 players, so it speaks to the luxury afforded to the Irish giants given their remarkable player pathways. That number will likely swell to the mid to late 50s by the time the season is done.

Cullen also spoke to Leinster – and by default Ireland’s – injury crisis at hooker. Injuries to Dan Sheehan, Dan Kelleher and Lee Barron have forced the rapid development of Gus McCarthy, who was rewarded with an Ireland call-up from Andy Farrell last week.

“Four senior hookers out, Gus started a good few games for us, Stephen Smyth coming off the bench today; I know it’s only for a couple of minutes but last week as well. It’s just getting them used to the experience of match days. The cohesion part is a challenge when you’re chopping and changing but it sets us up for the season is the thing.”

The game also saw the return of Robbie Henshaw from injury, who put in a solid performance after his latest lay-off.

“It was Robbie’s first game. It’s good to get Robbie through the guts of 80 minutes there… and similar for Hugh [Cooney]. He had some big moments in the game, nice and composed on the ball and he came up with a big defensive play. Lots of positives there.”

Cullen also credited the Johannesburg-based Lions, who entered Saturday’s game undefeated and gave the Irish province their sternest test of the season to date.

“They tenacious [the Lions] and well drilled at what they do… They had some good, clever lineout plays.

“We’re probably still forcing things a little bit and the Lions are very tenacious the way they defend. They scramble really hard and they’ll go aggressively at the ball.”