The 'special day' promise Leo Cullen has made about beaten Leinster
Only a heart of stone would have felt nothing for Leo Cullen when he tried to give rhyme and reason for his Leinster team’s latest Heineken Champions Cup setback.
It was a spectacular letdown, the Irish province relinquishing a 17-point lead to lose by three in a classic for the ages that finished with just 27 players on the pitch, just 13 in the Leinster blue following the red carding of Michael Ala’alatoa and the yellow carding of Ronan Kelleher down the finishing straight.
There was the rub: the Leinster replacements bench wasn’t up to the gigantic task of providing the reinforcement necessary to get the foundation laid by their starters over the line when it really counted.
Too often during the course of recent regular seasons, Cullen’s snazzy team are winning by a canter and the bench gets thrust into a comfortable scenario where even the most inexperienced rookie can look like a world-beater.
Finals rugby, though, is different. Everyone must be on their mettle and in the cauldron of fine margins, any slippage is exposed. So it proved again in Dublin 12 months after the same sort of calamity left Leinster beaten by the same opposition in Marseille.
Across the 160 minutes versus La Rochelle, Leinster have been in front for 132 minutes (70 on Saturday and 62 last year), yet they have only back-to-back runners-up medals to show for it. The chokers tag will inevitably be given airplay, feeding into this faux narrative that the four-star Leinster are somehow a team to be hated.
However, in the cold light of day, the fact is that Cullen’s nearly men deserve praise that they keep getting up off the canvas, going at it again and coming ever so close to being crowned champions.
Let’s put their consistency in contesting three Champions Cup finals in the five seasons since their 2018 triumph in perspective, defeats where the margins have been 10 points, three points and now just an agonising one.
On Friday night in Dublin, Toulon wildly celebrated their Challenge Cup final win over Glasgow. That is the secondary level at which the three-in-a-row Champions Cup champions from eight to 10 years ago now compete at. They have fallen away, let their standards slip.
Leinster? They keep making a far better fist of competing for top-table honours and the anguish of recent times can ultimately be the fuel that eventually makes the difference provided they upholster their bench and have finishers who collectively make a winning difference at the top, top level rather than leave their team numerically challenged when called on to produce.
Perspective was something that Cullen alluded to in Saturday evening’s aftermath. A one-point defeat with his team hammering away at the line looking to score the winner was no shame, not when you have the backstory that the director of rugby has, of Leinster historically being terrible contenders who couldn’t dream of ever reaching a final back in the day, never mind win the trophy on four occasions.
“It’s so tight and the big thing is you have got to keep putting yourself in that situation,” he pleaded. “There is lots of commentary, the fifth star piece. The FIFTH star. I was around in the days when we were trying to get one star.
“As a young player, I remember Mike Ruddock in the old prefab building attached to Wesley and this was 1997. I’m just out of school and Mike Ruddock, Rhys Ruddock’s father, is presenting to us the European Cup final which was Brive against Leicester. ‘Could you ever be part of it?’ – that’s the question you are asking yourselves in 1997.
“That’s why I go back to that 2003 game against Perpignan where we are in a semi-final and you are thinking, ‘This is our time’ and you lose the semi-final – and then you are asking yourself, ‘Will you ever get to this stage again?
“But eventually we do, in 2009. But there were certain players who had been through so much pain, not getting to finals. So we have got young players in the group at the moment and they are experiencing what that pain is like.
“The good news is we won it in 2009, 11, 12, 18. It does seem a long time away, but I do remember the days when it was like, ‘Will we ever do this?’ That is what I mean about the players and the belief and sticking with it.
“It’s so bloody hard. There are teams gathering all around Europe and South African teams now as well and there are assembling squads that are highly motivated, top-end players, huge resources and all the rest. Like, we are there. Like, it’s so close and that is why it is so upsetting.
“It’s so upsetting today but I have a lot of faith in some of the young guys that are coming through and some of the leaders and some of the quality of the people that are there and they will be back, will be back, and you have just got to keep putting yourself in that situation time and time again and someday we will get over the line and it will be a special day.”
Only time can tell, though, whether his hunch will be proven right.
Comments on RugbyPass
What a difference Rodda and Carter made. Rodda has been out for ages but he is really the only world class lock in Australian rugby. Him, Carter and Beale made a huge difference on the weekend. If only they had a few decent props they’d be a much more dangerous team. Hamish Stewart was excellent last week as well. His carrying has improved significantly and has to be next in line after Paisami at 12 for the Wallabies. He’ll benefit hugely with Beale at fullback, there’s just no better communicator in Australian rugby than him and his experience will make a huge difference for the Force. No one sees space like Beale and he’s still sharp. I can see Force making a late charge into the top 8 if they can get some consistency.
2 Go to commentsRodda will be a walk up starter at lock. Frost if you analyse his dominance has little impact and he’s a long way from being physical enough, especially when you compare to Rodda and the work he does. He was quite poor at the World Cup in his lack of physicality. Between Rodda and Skelton we would have locks who can dominate the breakdown and in contact. Frost is maybe next but Schmidt might go for a more physical lock who does their core work better like Ryan or LSL. Swain is no chance unless there’s a load of injuries. Pollard hasn’t got the scrum ability yet to be considered. Nasser dominated him when they went toe to toe and really showed him up. Picking Skelton effects who can play 6 and 8. Ideally Valetini would play 6 as that’s his best position and Wilson at 8 but that’s not ideal for lineout success. Cale isn’t physical enough yet in contact and defence but is the best backrow lineout jumper followed by Wright, Hanigan and Swinton so unfortunately Valetini probably will start at 8 with Wright or Hanigan at 6. Wilson on the bench, he’s got too much quality not to be in the squad. Paisami is leading the way at 12 but Hamish Stewart is playing extremely well also and his ball carrying has improved significantly. Beale is also another option based on the weekend. Beale is class but he’s also the best communicator of any Australian backline player and that can’t be underestimated, he’ll be in the mix.
8 Go to commentsWhy do people keep on picking Ardie at 7 when he's a ball in hand 8? A modern 7 is the lead tackler and ruck clearer which isn't his strength.
14 Go to commentsSly dig there at Ireland’s propensity to back a non-Irish coach. Must really want it. I’m not sure I like ROG very much. Comes off as unpleasant. But he’d gain my respect if he took a number 7 ranked team and turned them into WC winners. Not even back-to-back. Argentina? Scotland? Or how about Wales? France would be too easy, no?
1 Go to commentsA bit of sensationalism, but surprised by the comments about SBW. I’ve always thought of him as a pretty authentic person. There is nothing worse than working with a colleague you’ve seen straight through.
9 Go to comments100% agree with your comment about Touch. I’ve been playing it competitively since Covid. It’s on a Wednesday night after work. It means the weekend is free for time with my family.
1 Go to commentsRodda back is massively important for the Wallabies. Kaitu at hooker important too coz he was very good a few years ago.
2 Go to commentsThe pink cabous might be eligible this year and the Boks don’t need him
8 Go to commentsNasser and kaitu are options for hooker. Especially Nasser. You forgot Rodda who touch wood will be fit at test time and if fit he’s number one. Great partner for the great Skelton and Oz best lineout caller. Third best lock is LSL whom I’d be inclined to sub on for Skelton around 60 minutes. Probably start valetini at 8 because I like a big body back there. Cale should play 6 at the brumbies. For Wallabies definitely cale in the squad but as an apprentice. Dunno who starts at 6 seru wright Swinton hanigan with Will Harris and Harry Wilson not far away. Seru and Swinton my front runners but Swinton is going. Still if we don’t cap seru then Fiji must coz they need his lineout skills and easily compensate for his lack of weight
8 Go to commentsYeah but who was it?
9 Go to commentsThink you might have written this just before the Brumbies got thrashed last weekend
8 Go to commentsI really do believe that Billy Proctor should be selected at least in the larger squad but also it would be my choice at 13, much more a center than Ioane who can still play at wing. Roigard if fit should play, otherwise it should be Perenara or Christie. Also, Iose could deserve a spot at blindside. Of course, being a Canes supporter I’m biased but I really believe that at least Billy P is deserving a chance and being Holland one of the Selectors, I’m having a little hope he could grab it.
14 Go to commentsI would not play Swinton I’d pick Wright or Hanigan. The rest are decent starters, but can’t agree on any subs except Tupou. My take on the subs: Gibbon, Ueslese, Tupou, LSL, Wilson, White, Will Harrison, and Petaia.
8 Go to commentsSBW the biggest moron to pull on a black jersey a park footy player at best
9 Go to commentsSBW is fast becoming a laughing stock, his misplaced comments & lack of insight Is actually pretty sad.
9 Go to commentsJust well you guys are couch 🛋 potatoes selector's, picking a team of greenhorns to play England! “What are you people smoking?” The halfbacks will be Christie, Fakatava, Perenara Props; Newell, Bower, Lomax, Tunga'fasi, Hookers; Asosa Amua when fit, Taylor, Samisoni,
14 Go to commentsQuite frankly, all this is a bit pathetic. The first time Wales get the Wooden Spoon in 21 years and everyone is on the bandwagon for a ‘play-off’ game. Wales have no obligation to Georgia and no obligation to the rest of the Six Nations to play such a game. If they want Georgia in so badly then they need to include South Africa into a Northern Hemisphere competition with 2 leagues of 4 teams with the top 2 competing for the Championship. Sadly, this will end Triple Crowns and Grand Slams forever. Is this really what you want?
4 Go to commentsI think Finau to start Blackadder to come on. Poss Prokter instead of Ioane, haven't seen much from Reiko so far this year.
14 Go to commentsJoe will have had a good chat with Dave Rennie, a smart move to begin with while it’s doubtful Fast Eddie will be consulted? Plenty of Aus players hitting top form so they should go OK.
8 Go to commentsMmm. Not sure I like this article or see it as necessary.
9 Go to comments