Leinster head coach Leo Cullen admitted he’s “unsure” of the way in which ahead for his facet after their shock 31-14 defeat to Munster at Croke Park.
The end result that leaves the reigning URC champions with extra losses after 4 rounds than in the entire of 2024/25 season, with a solitary win over the Sharks all they’ve to point out for a tough couple of weeks within the compeition.
Regardless of an early Leinster rating from Ronan Kelleher, Munster’s defence and bodily edge informed.
Clayton McMillan’s males outmuscled the reigning URC champions with tries from Brian Gleeson, Tom Farrell and Ethan Coughlan, plus a penalty attempt to boot. A late Scott Penny comfort strive couldn’t paper over what was an embarrassing night for the champs in entrance of 51,859 punters on the house of the GAA.
“I assumed we began the sport okay. We scored an excellent strive firstly. Munster come again into it, we don’t exit successfully, and therefore they’re down our finish. They do nicely from a close-range strive they usually recover from. We have been most likely in that place 12 instances within the recreation the place we don’t recover from, as a result of we’re chasing the sport,” stated Cullen.
United Rugby Championship
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Munster’s medical edge proved decisive, with Cullen lamenting his group’s lack of composure within the purple zone.
“We had an opportunity earlier than half-time to attain, the place Munster are scrapping and combating for every little thing and also you’ve acquired to present them an enormous quantity of credit score for the way in which they went about issues. They have been capable of maintain us out earlier than half-time. We began the second half fairly nicely, I assumed, and have been in an excellent place. We’ve got a lineout and we’ve got plenty of these pick-and-go alternatives near the try-line.
“However Munster are simply so efficient and we’re simply missing a little bit of composure there. Is that as a result of it’s the primary recreation of the season for lots of fellows or no matter that’s? Or is it Munster are superb and we’re simply not fairly correct sufficient? There’s a number of various factors there at play.”
Leinster now discover themselves outdoors the highest eight after three defeats in 4 video games — a situation virtually unthinkable given their dominance in current URC campaigns. For Cullen, the problem goes past kind.
“It’s an excellent wake-up for the group. We had a bunch that was out in South Africa, and we’ve got a cohort of the Lions guys. It’s all the time going to be a little bit of a sticky begin to the season for us. We’ve talked about it over the past whereas and now we’re seeing it unfold. You discuss it and hope that that’s not going to be the case, however you’re marking everybody’s card, our personal specifically. We’ve nonetheless acquired to undergo it and we weren’t ok at the moment.
“However the massive factor is composure, taking alternatives. Munster have been a hell of rather a lot higher than we have been. We’re simply not battle-hardened in the mean time. It’s what it’s. I’m unsure precisely what the answer is for us transferring ahead. How we get to that bodily pitch and pace of enjoying video games.”
With 21 gamers now departing for Ireland camp, Cullen faces the prospect of fielding a makeshift facet subsequent weekend towards Zebre.
“The problem for us within the quick time period is we’ve got a cohort which can be going to be gone subsequent week and we’re enjoying Zebra on the Aviva. I’d like to be coming into the press right here speaking a few massive efficiency right here and sending guys off into nationwide camp, and speaking concerning the group that we’ve got on the brink of play towards Zebre and the chance that’s there for quite a few gamers. We’ll have quite a few guys making their debut subsequent week, however sadly, I’m speaking about how we have been sub-par at the moment.”
The Leinster boss gave credit score to Munster for merely wanting it extra.
“I heard Clayton [McMillan] discuss onerous work, grit, and dedication. They confirmed that in spades, didn’t they? Whereas we have been second in onerous work, grit and dedication and we simply have to take that on the chin and be higher subsequent time.”
Cullen pointed to the uneven pre-season as an element however accepted that the present mannequin isn’t working.
“It was all the time going to be a little bit of a sticky begin to the season for us. We’ve talked about it over the past whereas and now we’re seeing it unfold. You’ve acquired to know, to get to the pitch of a recreation, you’ve acquired to play some video games. A whole lot of these guys for Munster, pay attention they’ve performed no less than two of the three URC video games and a few of them performed within the warm-up video games earlier than in order that battle-hardened piece. We’re simply not battle hardened in the mean time. It’s what it’s.
“I’m unsure precisely what the answer is for us transferring ahead. How we get to that bodily pitch and pace of enjoying video games. Hear, we have to analyse what we do there for future seasons as a result of what we’ve completed this yr clearly hasn’t labored out. We’ve misplaced three of the final 4 video games.”
Cullen was additionally candid about Leinster’s lack of ruthlessness in comparison with Munster’s.
“It’s disappointing. It’s disappointing for the followers who prove to observe. I’m disenchanted we didn’t give a greater account of ourselves for certain as a result of we’re down that finish of the sector, we’re doing every little thing bar getting that final one or two metres. What number of instances will we get held up versus Munster take the nook they usually get in for that strive, which seems comparatively straightforward.
“We’re within the place, most likely 12 sequences the place you might need 5 to 6 carries which can be just like that, so if I’m trying again on the evaluate, that’s what I might be taking a look at, at the beginning. Why are these guys that bit hungrier than us? A few of that may be onerous to place your finger on. It’s ensuring that all of us attempt to personal it.
“It’s an excellent wake-up for the group, isn’t it?”
