Leinster go back to back and who will replace Leo Cullen in 2027?
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What led to Leinster's dominant victory in the URC final?
Hello and welcome along to the RT Rugby Podcast once again. The club season is over. Leinster are the URC champions, but we still have so much to talk about for the next month or so. To start with this week, Leinster's second URC title in a row. Leo Cullen leaving at the end of next season.
What mistakes did the Bulls make during the URC final?
who's going to replace him. And there's the Nations Championship coming up next week. Ian Keighley will be with us a little bit later to talk about that. Sport podcast on RTE, or sport podcast at RTE.ie to get in touch with whatever questions you like over the next few weeks. For now though, Bernard Jackman and I are back in studio this week, but still on the line. We have, we had to get him back for a chat. Jake White, Jake White, good morning. How are you doing?
How did Leinster's scrum perform under pressure?
Morning, Neil. Morning, Bernard. Nice to be back. We said we'd have to bring you back for a chat after what happened last week because it was a remarkably eerily similar semifinal to what happened in Croke Park 12 months ago, even down to 22-0 at halftime. At times, I couldn't really believe what I was seeing.
What is Leo Cullen's legacy at Leinster?
I was looking back on last year's match report thinking, can I just copy and paste this one?
Well, I think you can, Neil. I mean, that's what made me... I remember last week you asked me, is it going to be bittersweet watching this final?
Is Jake White interested in replacing Leo Cullen as head coach?
And, you know, I was wondering to myself, wonder what would happen. And I did say, I think the Bulls are much better off this year than last year, based on the fact that they had so many injured players back.
What are the implications of Cullen's early departure announcement?
Squad was definitely stronger. I mean, I said to you guys last week as well, they're in a happy place. The players asked for some changes, which they got. But then, you know, I felt after the game that some things, you know, there's a wonderful saying that the more things change, the more things stay the same. And Leinster, I've said it to you many times, Bernard, I mean, I'm not a fan of Leinster just because I'm trying to win awards, but Leinster are the benchmark. You know, Leinster... I was looking at that game thinking there's only one URC team that really has a chance to win the Champions Cup.
How is Sam Prendergast preparing for the Nations Championship?
Only one. Yes, we all believe we can and we all have these motivational talks about we want to play in Europe and win European Cups. But Leinster, out of all the URC teams, is the one team that can and have. And so it showed again, you know, no Porter, no Baird, no Sneeman, no Will Connors, no Paddy McCarthy, you know, and yet they still go and win a back to back final, having had to give players away for Six Nations. I think what I got out of that is we're going to have to fight fire with fire. I mean, I said to my mates after the weekend that not one South African side made the top eight in Europe and not one South African side made the Challenge Cup playoffs either.
What are the potential line-up changes for Ireland against Australia?
So when you put that in perspective, Leinster are always going to be too much in Ireland for any touring side from South Africa.
I mean, you say there was going to be too much, but Bernard, did we think too much was going to be that big of a gap?
No, I think we were surprised by the gap. I think the Bulls definitely on paper should have done better. But I think what Jake is saying, and it's rare for a coach to say it publicly because most are afraid there's a consequence of that or it looks like they're talking down their own side. Privately, I think every top 14 coach, every Guinness Premiership coach would say the same thing, that Leinster should win the URC every year. And they are the ones, bar Bordeaux and Toulouse, who are best set up for success in the Champions Cup as well. That's just the nature of it. But I think from a Leinster point of view, they fired on Friday night and we saw that class come to fruition and we saw it play out on the field and it wasn't even a contest.
I suppose... From a Bulls point of view, the questions around why they underperformed again to that level, and basics of the game, like some of their handling, their line-out really malfunctioned. I know Leinster defended pretty well, but it wasn't anything they haven't seen before.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What led to Leinster's dominant victory in the URC final?
0:08–0:23
2
What mistakes did the Bulls make during the URC final?
0:23–0:47
3
How did Leinster's scrum perform under pressure?
0:47–1:06
4
What is Leo Cullen's legacy at Leinster?
1:06–1:17
5
Is Jake White interested in replacing Leo Cullen as head coach?
1:17–1:29
6
What are the implications of Cullen's early departure announcement?
1:29–2:00
7
How is Sam Prendergast preparing for the Nations Championship?
2:00–2:37
8
What are the potential line-up changes for Ireland against Australia?
2:37–1:00:16
Speakers
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