Leinster set to add serious muscle ahead of hosting Bulls
Tournament favourites Leinster, fresh from a 12-try rout of Glasgow Warriors, looks set to receive a boost ahead of the arrival of the Bulls this week.
Leinster sailed into the semifinals with a 76-14 victory over the Warriors, setting up a Dublin encounter with the Bulls on Friday.
In the other Ireland versus South Africa showdown Ulster make the long journey down to Cape Town to take on the Stormers on Saturday.
Leinster coach Leo Cullen was ‘optimistic’ that some of the injured stars who missed the quarterfinal cruise will add some additional muscle ahead of the first of two United Rugby Championship semifinals.
Cullen is hopeful he will have Tadhg Furlong available, after the tighthead was replaced early in the second half of the quarterfinal win over the Warriors – struggling with a back injury.
“Tadhg, his back hurt a little bit, but I don’t think it’s anything major,” Cullen said.
It also remains to be seen if any of Rónan Kelleher, Hugo Keenan, Johnny Sexton or James Lowe will come back into contention.
“In terms of the guys that didn’t feature, we’ll see how those guys are – the four being Rónan, Hugo, Johnny and James,” Cullen said, adding that there were no major injuries in the quarterfinal.
Asked about the Warriors rout, he said: “Job done, on to the next one.
“It’s good that we have another week in the season.
“It’s just trying to enjoy the time together and if we can do that for another week, great.
“If we can do it for another, even better, because the Bulls are a good side.”
The Bulls, who edged out the Sharks 30-27 at the weekend, will pose a different threat to Glasgow.
“It’s really just getting through to the next round, there are no extra points for scoring more tries in these games,” he said.
“It’s on to the next challenge which is the Bulls, which will be significant.
“It’s about enjoying the week, that’s the big thing from my point of view, for the guys to enjoy another week together.
“You see it now with teams who are finished, the season is over, and the groups are never together again in that form.”
Despite a lack of difficulty in the landslide victory over Glasgow, Cullen admitted that the ruthlessness displayed by his men is great for confidence – especially after the La Rochelle loss.
“Yeah, that’s what you need to be in the modern game, isn’t it?” he added.
“It’s just nailing every opportunity that comes along as best as you possibly can, and if you miss out on an opportunity you’re not letting that drag around with you, it’s just moving on to the next challenge, the next moment in the game.
“So yeah, overall I thought the guys did that pretty well.
“That fight and scramble are good, and that’s what you need in these play-off games.”
Asked post-match on Saturday whether Leinster’s one-sided mauling of Glasgow was adequate preparation for a rematch against the Bulls, Cullen replied: “It’s not ideal, that’s fair to say, but you got to deal with what you got to deal with.
“For some guys, it gives them a bit of confidence but does it really matter going into next week? No. It’s just about getting through into the next round, whether that’s by a point or more than that.
“The Bulls game, on the other hand, was a very tight, tense affair so they prepared for that drop goal late in the game.
“I thought they did well.
“The Sharks had their moments just before that. The Bulls came up with a big turnover, got down to the end of the field, and showed really good composure to win the game.
“Ideally we don’t get ourselves in that situation next week where it’s tight at the end of the game!
“We got to do a bit of work on the Bulls this week.
“The Sharks are a team we played more recently.
“The Bulls we have to think back to round one in the league, back at Lansdowne Road so it’s a long time ago.”
Comments on RugbyPass
It couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
25 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
13 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
25 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
13 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
84 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
1 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
13 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
13 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
13 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
13 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
13 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
44 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to comments