Leo Cullen ‘not sure’ of way forward for Leinster after shock start to URC season

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen admitted he is “not sure” of the way forward for his side after their shock 31-14 defeat to Munster at Croke Park.

The result that leaves the reigning URC champions with more losses after four rounds than in the whole of 2024/25 season, with a solitary win over the Sharks all they have to show for a rough couple of weeks in the compeition.

Despite an early Leinster score from Ronan Kelleher, Munster’s defence and physical edge told.

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Clayton McMillan’s men outmuscled the reigning URC champions with tries from Brian Gleeson, Tom Farrell and Ethan Coughlan, plus a penalty try to boot. A late Scott Penny consolation try couldn’t paper over what was an embarrassing evening for the champs in front of 51,859 punters at the home of the GAA.

“I thought we started the game okay. We scored a good try at the start. Munster come back into it, we don’t exit effectively, and hence they’re down our end. They do well from a close-range try and they get over. We were probably in that position 12 times in the game where we don’t get over, because we’re chasing the game,” said Cullen.

United Rugby Championship

P

W

L

D

PF

PA

PD

BP T

BP-7

BP

Total

1

Stormers

4

4

0

0

19

2

Munster

4

4

0

0

19

3

Glasgow

4

3

1

0

16

4

Cardiff Rugby

4

3

1

0

16

5

Ulster

3

3

0

0

15

6

Bulls

4

3

1

0

14

7

Benetton

4

2

2

0

9

8

Zebre

4

2

2

0

9

9

Edinburgh

3

1

2

0

8

10

Connacht

3

1

2

0

8

11

Lions

4

1

3

0

6

12

Leinster

4

1

3

0

6

13

Ospreys

4

1

3

0

5

14

Sharks

4

0

3

1

3

15

Dragons RFC

4

0

3

1

3

16

Scarlets

3

0

3

0

0

Munster’s clinical edge proved decisive, with Cullen lamenting his team’s lack of composure in the red zone.

“We had a chance before half-time to score, where Munster are scrapping and fighting for everything and you’ve got to give them a huge amount of credit for the way they went about things. They were able to hold us out before half-time. We started the second half pretty well, I thought, and were in a good position. We have a lineout and we have lots of these pick-and-go opportunities close to the try-line.

“But Munster are just so effective and we’re just lacking a bit of composure there. Is that because it’s the first game of the season for a lot of guys or whatever that is? Or is it Munster are very good and we’re just not quite accurate enough? There’s a few different factors there at play.”

Leinster now find themselves outside the top eight after three defeats in four games — a scenario almost unthinkable given their dominance in recent URC campaigns. For Cullen, the issue goes beyond form.

“It’s a good wake-up for the group. We had a group that was out in South Africa, and we have a cohort of the Lions guys. It’s always going to be a bit of a sticky start to the season for us. We’ve talked about it over the last while and now we’re seeing it unfold. You talk about it and hope that that’s not going to be the case, but you’re marking everyone’s card, our own in particular. We’ve still got to go through it and we weren’t good enough today.

“But the big thing is composure, taking opportunities. Munster were a hell of a lot better than we were. We’re just not battle-hardened at the moment. It is what it is. I’m not sure exactly what the solution is for us moving forward. How we get to that physical pitch and speed of playing games.”

With 21 players now departing for Ireland camp, Cullen faces the prospect of fielding a makeshift side next weekend against Zebre.

“The challenge for us in the short term is we have a cohort that are going to be gone next week and we’re playing Zebra at the Aviva. I’d love to be coming into the press here talking about a big performance here and sending guys off into national camp, and talking about the group that we have getting ready to play against Zebre and the opportunity that’s there for a number of players. We’ll have a number of guys making their debut next week, but unfortunately, I’m talking about how we were sub-par today.”

The Leinster boss gave credit to Munster for simply wanting it more.

“I heard Clayton [McMillan] talk about hard work, grit, and determination. They showed that in spades, didn’t they? Whereas we were second in hard work, grit and determination and we just need to take that on the chin and be better next time.”

Cullen pointed to the uneven pre-season as a factor but accepted that the current model isn’t working.

“It was always going to be a bit of a sticky start to the season for us. We’ve talked about it over the last while and now we’re seeing it unfold. You’ve got to understand, to get to the pitch of a game, you’ve got to play some games. A lot of those guys for Munster, listen they’ve played at least two of the three URC games and some of them played in the warm-up games before so that battle-hardened piece. We’re just not battle hardened at the moment. It is what it is.

“I’m not sure exactly what the solution is for us moving forward. How we get to that physical pitch and speed of playing games. Listen, we need to analyse what we do there for future seasons because what we’ve done this year clearly hasn’t worked out. We’ve lost three of the last four games.”

Cullen was also candid about Leinster’s lack of ruthlessness compared to Munster’s.

“It’s disappointing. It’s disappointing for the fans who turn out to watch. I’m disappointed we didn’t give a better account of ourselves for sure because we’re down that end of the field, we’re doing everything bar getting that last one or two metres. How many times do we get held up versus Munster take the corner and they get in for that try, which looks relatively easy.

“We’re in the position, probably 12 sequences where you might have five to six carries that are similar to that, so if I’m looking back at the review, that’s what I would be looking at, first and foremost. Why are these guys that bit hungrier than us? Some of that can be hard to put your finger on. It’s making sure that we all try and own it.

“It’s a good wake-up for the group, isn’t it?”