Rugby Daily | Leo Cullen slams media "putting boot into" Leinster, Connacht sign rising Leinster star
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You are very welcome along to Tuesday's Rugby Daily. I'm Cameron Hill. I hope you're recovered from the bank holiday weekend. Coming up today, Leo Cullen takes aim at the Haters after Leinster booked their spot in the Investec Champions Cup final over the weekend. French TV takes aim at Bath, criticism of their broadcast of the semi-final defeat to Bordeaux. And the RFU set their aims for the next 18 months after giving their backing to England head coach Steve Borthwick. First up today, Leinster survived a late fight back from Toulon to book their place in the Investec Champions Cup final. Leo Collins' side were 29-25 winners at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday, but the French side scored two tries in the final 10 minutes to move within four points for a thrilling finale, and they could have completed the comeback when winger Gaël Drian was found in space on the right wing, only to be denied by a covering tackle from Rico Ioane.
Harry Byrne wasn't his usual best off the tee on Saturday, he missed two pretty straightforward penalties, while discipline issues once again badgered Leinster's performance. They were reduced to 13 players after quick-fire yellow cards to Andrew Porter and then Byrne, but the province held on and are into their fourth decider in five years. However, speaking after the game, Cullen took the opportunity to hit back at media criticism of the team this season.
to get ourselves, listen, I have to applaud the players, you know, for the desire that they showed throughout the season to want to put themselves back in this situation again because, listen, you guys love throwing the boot at us, don't you? You guys love throwing the boot at us when things don't go well. I hope you enjoyed that. Well, whatever it sells, obviously, anyway, because you read plenty of it. So, listen, the courage that the players show, you know, it's a testament. Listen, Caelan's sitting beside me because he leads the group incredibly well. But you'd love if everybody got behind the team now, wouldn't you? When you're up against, you know, sort of juggernauts of the game. Because it's not easy doing this, is it?
You can see the other provinces. We're obviously the only Irish province left in the competition. The group will still continue to do what they do. It's not necessarily always pretty.
What did Leo Cullen say about media criticism of Leinster?
The game is not pretty, is it? We're up against some serious teams here to be able to compete. It's insanely hard to win this competition. Insanely hard.
as is like literally because today's the first time we've ever been too long so cullen is now taking stock after that semi-final win with robbie henshaw's stretchered off midway through the first half of that game with a head injury he's following the graduated return to play protocols and is thus ruled out of their urc hosting of the lions this weekend josh vanderfleer is also subject to the return to play and is a doubt for saturday's game at the aviva Tommy O'Brien and Jack Conan also picked up knocks last weekend and a decision will be made on their fitness later in the week. So too for James Lowe and Tyg Furlong. The province have also confirmed that Jordan Larmer has returned to full training this week.
Two-time Champions Cup winner Alan Quinlan joined Gerard Gilroy and Dara Smith-Nocton on this morning's off-the-ball breakfast.
to talk through the investec champions cup weekend that was he feels that cullen's comments about the media might be an attempt to energize the squad ahead of a crucial final few weeks of the season i don't think anyone's been overly critical of them there's probably been maybe a few i don't know yeah but he's probably uh they probably feel that and it's maybe protect your players a little bit as well and sometimes you have to get your perspective
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