After two solid wins in the Investec Champions Cup, Leo Cullen couldn’t help but praise his team’s recent performances. While reaching the semi-finals was likely, not many expected Leinster to dominate as they did in the round of 16 and quarter-finals. In just six days, they took apart both Harlequins and the Glasgow Warriors, racking up a whopping 114 points without letting their opponents score a single point. Cullen Praises Recent Performances.
Strong Wins Against Harlequins and Glasgow
Harlequins seemed totally out of it during their 64-0 loss at Croke Park, but Glasgow showed up ready to play at the Aviva Stadium on Friday night. Still, they couldn’t match the skill of the four-time champions. Leinster kept control from start to finish, with Jordie Barrett putting in a standout performance in the 52-0 win. Cullen told RTÉ Sport he was happy with how different players stepped up in both games. Two good performances in six days, which is great against two very different opponents,” he said. He added that some lineup changes during the week helped keep the squad fresh, and everyone played their part, even those who came off the bench.
Looking Ahead to the Semi-Finals
Now, Leinster is waiting to find out who they’ll face next, either the Northampton Saints or Castres. With the way they’ve been playing, it’s hard to imagine either team stopping them from making it to the final for the fourth time in a row. Cullen thought the team’s performance against Glasgow, where they scored 10 fewer points than they did against Harlequins, was actually more impressive. When asked whether it was better to score 18 tries or shut out two opponents, he just smiled, pointing out that it really depends on who you ask. In the end, what matters most to him is moving on to the next round.
Defensive Performance Sets a High Bar
Leinster has been stellar in defense, going nearly 190 minutes without letting any points slip through. The last time an opponent managed to score was when Bongi Mbonambi got a try in a URC game last month. Jack Conan mentioned how proud the team is of their defensive strategy, which he gives credit to Jacques Nienaber for developing and the players for sticking to it. “It took a while last year to get it going, but now it’s paying off,” Conan told RTÉ Sport. Even though he had to leave the game early because of a neck injury, he assured fans it wasn’t serious. “I don’t think the lads needed me out there in the end,” he said, praising the team for not just winning but also for keeping a strong Glasgow squad from scoring.
