LEINSTER COACH LEO Cullen believes the addition of South Africa’s four leading franchises is vital for the future of the Pro14.
Having won four straight championships, Leinster’s dominance of the Pro14 was drawing comparisons with Dublin’s stranglehold over the All-Ireland SFC.
They’re not as likely to get things their own way from now on, however, with the Bulls, Sharks, Stormers and Lions set to join the party, starting next month with The Rainbow Cup.
All four clubs have reached at least one Super Rugby final, the Lions appearing in three successive deciders from 2016-18; the Bulls winning three titles between 2007 and 2010; with the Sharks making four finals and the Stormers one.
“They are a big deal, those four teams,” said Cullen. “For the credibility of the competition we play in, for the profile of the competition it is only going to be positive.
“It creates lots of different challenges.
“We’ll get a very short snap-shot of it this year with the Rainbow Cup, moving forward it’s going to be slightly different.
“It’s a very positive development overall.
“If you’ve been to South Africa, it is one of the biggest rugby markets in the world. They’re the world champions, they’ve so many players that have played in the World Cup winning team that will be representing those four teams – so, yeah, it’s going to be a massive challenge and that’s what we all want. To test ourselves against the best that’s out there.”
After winning his fifth trophy as Leinster coach on Saturday, Cullen admitted the value of the win was decreased somewhat by the absence of supporters.
“Fans make the occasion in my mind. Think of what it would have been like, it’s a great advert for the game to see two teams going at it hell for leather and you’ve got to applaud the players for the attitude that’s being shown.
“It’s played in the right spirit, you can see by both sets of players, but if you have a crowd there it just adds another dimension. You have an atmosphere and that’s what we’re missing.
“Hopefully we get that back before too long, but it’s day by day.”
Next up is Toulon, who defeated Cullen’s Leinster twice in his debut season as head coach.
“They are a star-studded team,” he said. “You think of some of the players they have in their line-up – I see Parisse is back in their team tonight, Ma’a Nonu (who was sent off), you go across the team and the players who played with France on Friday night like Serin, Ollivon, Taofifenua.
“So, yeah, it’s a massive challenge for us and that’s why we’re involved in the game.
“It won’t be easy, but that’s what will make it all the more special if we manage to get through to a quarter-final the week after and we’ll see who that’s against – either Exeter or Lyon who are battling it out.”
I would sincerely hope the South African teams prove to of far higher quality than the Cheetahs and Southern Kings were. The Pro14 needs more competing teams. Even as a Leinster fan, it really doesnt make the competition any good if Leinster win every year at a canter.
@Pete Slattery ✏️: those teams are, they are stacked full of Springboks and big franchises. They will be exactly what the comp needs. Im a Leinster fan too, but the Pro 14 period where Glasgow, Connaught and Scarlets won was far more exciting.
@Pete Slattery ✏️: I thought Cheetahs were pretty good and added to the comp, in their last season if it had played out they had a great chance of making the playoffs. SK were dire for other reasons. Stormers and Lions will come in at similar level to the Cheetahs in thier last year. Sharks and Bulls will be a level above. Personally I don’t think any are as strong as Leinster, Munster or Ulster.
@Kingshu: Leinster maybe. Level or superior to Munster or Ulster, particularly the Stormers.
@Kingshu: I actually think Munster and Connacht will struggle with the top SA teams. Some of them have won super rugby.
@David Finn: how do you work that out. Stormed are not even the strongest SA side. Bulls won super rugby unlocked and Currie cup and have the very rich backers. Think you are just one the wind up.
All the teams will be a level up from Munster and Ulster. The SA packs will demolish Ulster, particularly. Munster will also struggle and, as we’ve seen, their back line is not exactly tearing it up. Think Leinster will struggle big time too.
@Ricky Wright: On what are you baseing that on? These are not the SA sides of years ago, most of their best players are now in Europe or Japan. If you use Cheetahs in the Currie cup/super rugby (having lost players from when there were in Pro 14) Lions are about equal to them, so not really top table quality, Sharks and stomers are slightly better, so would be about scarlets/Edinburgh level, Bulls are the Best SA side, and maybe at Ulster, Munster level, but prob just below that at present. Remember they have a salary cap of below £3 million, which is lower than what Benetton or even Zebre, while the cost of living is lower, you can quickly grasp why they have lost so many players, and are not a match for the top Pro 14 teams currently