LEINSTER HEAD COACH Leo Cullen praised the attitude of his players after they got their United Rugby Championship campaign back on track with an accomplished 26-7 bonus point triumph over Edinburgh at the RDS.
Following last Saturday week’s crushing 29-27 defeat at the hands of Cardiff, the Blues were aiming to keep up the pressure on their interprovincial rivals Ulster at the summit of the URC table. Thanks to tries from Scott Penny, Nick McCarthy, Vakh Abdaladze and Max Deegan, they managed to do just that. This result leaves them a single point adrift of the northern province – with a game in hand – ahead of the Ospreys’ visit to the Ballsbridge venue next weekend.
“It’s a pleasing outcome for sure. A lot of parts of the performance is to be expected really. We’ve a group here that were just working away, limited numbers. The effort was outstanding, it’s just about being a bit more accurate with the execution,” Cullen remarked in his post-match press conference.
“The attitude is the big thing. Making sure we bring that attitude the whole time. It’s great to have a big crowd for the game, I know there’s lots on this weekend and with the break in the Six Nations hopefully we can build on it for the Ospreys. Hopefully we’ll get a big crowd out. Some good stuff today, but plenty to work on.”
Already without a large chunk of his squad through injury and international call-ups, Cullen was dealt a further blow when team captain Rhys Ruddock was ruled out of the game with a minor quad issue. This threw Kildare native Martin Moloney in at the deep end for his first Leinster start, but Cullen felt the former Ireland U20s star – a Grand Slam winner at that age grade in 2019 – acquitted himself well during his 73 minutes on the pitch.
“He’s a great character, even yesterday he got a sense that Rhys might be struggling so I was going home yesterday and he was still studying away in the video room. He has a great attitude, Marty, and it was great to see him do well.”
Leinster also had to play three-quarters of the game without the services of Ciaran Frawley following his clash of heads with Edinburgh flanker Connor Boyle that earned the latter 10 minutes in the sin-bin.
This meant that – instead of replacing him later in the contest – Harry Byrne got a chance to play with his older brother Ross for the best part of an hour. Although he was disappointed to lose Frawley so early in the action, Cullen was glad to have the option of the two siblings within the same back line.
“He [Frawley] has a crack, he got a bang on his cheek. We’ll see how bad it is, we’ll find out over the weekend,” Cullen added.
“They [Ross and Harry] have a good relationship and understanding in what they’re trying to do. It gives us good balance in terms of the attack as well. It was good to see it for an extended period of time, 60 odd minutes. It’s definitely a good option for us in the future.
“For us the way we want to play, it’s very helpful having that second ball player. It’s much harder if you’re the opposition defence trying to pick up cues, having that second ball player.”
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Serious atmosphere here in Cavan. This is exactly where you want to be playing the All Ireland Champions. Whatever the result these games against the top 4 will stand to us in the summer months
It’s exactly the gate the county board needed as well
Mind blowing that people would actually travel to watch that rubbish sport.
@Ordinary lad: the much “hyped” Irish Rugby team lost yesterday. How much money do those lads earn?
Mind blowing that someone would take the time to open an article about a sport they consider to be ‘rubbish’ and then take the time to comment on it.
How can a team that receives €120k in funding compete against a team that receives €1.4million
Hahaha give over Al . Deep down you love the gaa
@Alan b..: Sure all the money we’ll be spending here we’ll double that funding for you pal ;)
a decent workout so far get rid of the Jamaican rum and redstripe against another nordie team who’s sole intention is to pull drag and hit off the ball.
Don’t know what game your watching. The hits off the ball have been 50:50.
Eh cavan is in the south of Ireland Einstein
fergal reilly should count himself lucky to share a pitch with these wonderful dublin footballers instead of going around like a drunk at a wedding looking for a fight.
That was stared by the Dublin man on the ground. You’re incredibly anti ulster football
And then mdma was the first man to get involved.
And who look for a figth at a wedding
ah lorcan stop it now.
fergal reilly would.
it’s north of me ya tit
@Alan b..: that explains why the dubs were late they looked at a map and headed north. When did this geographical transplant take place.
don’t be a tit like alan cavan play in ulster which is up north so they are nordies.
Cavan is not in Northern Ireland you don’t cross the border or use sterling
I didn’t say it was in Northern Ireland .
What do you mean by nordie then?if you are calling them that cos they’re north of you does that mean someone from cork would class Dublin as a nordie team
if they wanted to yes beacuse they would be northern to a Cork person now cavan is in ulster and part of the Republic of Ireland beacuse the brits didn’t want the kip so yes you are nordies which we where stuck with.
Stop you’re just embarrassing yourself
What part of Dublin are you from?
what difference does it make?
cavan play in the ulster champions with the other 8 nordie counties it’s no big deal just accept it is the way it is don’t be embarrassed alan.
All the complaints about dublins fans. Have any other county brought a few thousand fans with them today ?
@Gavin Byrne: In comparison Dublin have a fan base of about 10 times what other counties have. So of course they will bring large numbers with them.
Fair play today they really brought a fantastic atmosphere and plenty of money to Cavan town today
That a few time in the last three years the cavan has been delayed because of the fans.
If the dubs can’t make it to croke park on time how do you expect them to make it to cavan on time
@Lorcán Coyle: Should know by now that nothing in Cavan ever starts on time, nearest fifteen minutes, sure that’ll do.!!!
Ref jersey looks too like Dubs
We’ll save that excuse for later
Massive achievement if Roscommon can some how stay up in Division 1.
Lorcan are u watching the match