'We could get ourselves in trouble if we deliver that again' - Cullen critical of Leinster's big win
Leinster head coach Leo Cullen had mixed feelings about his side’s seven-try performance despite a comprehensive 50-21 bonus point victory over Northampton in the Heineken Cup.
Following last week’s emphatic 43-16 triumph in Franklin’s Gardens, the unbeaten Irish province did the double over Saints with a Garry Ringrose hat-trick and further tries from Tadhg Furlong, Dave Kearney, James Lowe and Caelan Doris.
He happy to make history as the first team to qualify for after just four rounds but there were some aspects of the performance that left Cullen a little frustrated.
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He said: “It was a little bit mixed I thought today. People are talking in quite positive terms about the performance, but there’s bits in there where we could get ourselves in trouble if we deliver that again.
“On the flip side, it’s a win. It keeps us trucking along. We turn our attention to other matters, back to the Guinness PRO14. We had some chances today where we didn’t quite capitalise. Defensively, it’s never great conceding three tries. There’s bits to do there.”
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In the absence of knee injury victim Jonathan Sexton, Ross Byrne started at fly-half and contributed 11 points before a dead leg forced him off, allowing Skerries youngster Ciaran Frawley to come on for his European debut.
Cullen was impressed with the way Frawley handled himself in front of a 42,041-strong crowd, adding: “Ross, just a dead leg for him. It was great experience for Ciaran Frawley to come on in that game. It’s a massive step up. He’s 22 years of age. Another positive step in his progression.
“You’re playing here in the Aviva. We talked about it here yesterday. To get over 40,000 to a regular-season game is brilliant. Hopefully we have a couple of big attendances during this Christmas period as well with the interprovincial games.”
For Northampton director of rugby Chris Boyd the biggest disappointment was their failure to come away with a bonus point of any description.
Although Dan Biggar, Ollie Sleightholme and Ahsee Tuala all crossed the whitewash, a fourth try never happened.
Boyd believes a strong finish to Pool One could keep the Gallagher Premiership outfit in the frame for a European knockout spot. They lie second on nine points, a full 10 behind Leinster.
“Certainly the plan coming here today was to secure a bonus point,” admitted Boyd.
“We didn’t think that winning or losing the game would affect our chances of getting out of the pool or not. I think there’s a couple of obvious pools where there’s going to be two teams coming out.
“Then there’s probably a couple of pools where the runner-up has got a chance. If we can do well against Benetton at home and in the last game at Lyon, then I think we’re still alive.”
Leicester fans want more change at Welford Road:
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No Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
3 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
5 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
54 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
5 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
54 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
54 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
18 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
18 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
54 Go to comments