Cullen: Salanoa move left Blues compromised
LEO CULLEN has ramped up the tension ahead of tonight’s Pro14 semi-final between Leinster and Munster by voicing his dismay at Roman Salanoa’s decision to switch provinces in the summer.
The former American footballer came through Leinster’s academy system, with Cullen claiming the promising tighthead — who becomes Irish qualified later this year — had made a verbal commitment to remain with the Blues.
The 22-year-old then did a U-turn and decided to link up with Munster, leaving Leinster ‘compromised’ at tighthead after Jack Aungier had agreed a move to Connacht.
Cullen has secured the services of former Munster tighthead Ciaran Parker on loan from Jersey in a bid to bolster his front row stocks, but the Leinster head coach couldn’t hide his frustration with the Salanoa transfer saga yesterday. ‘He told me he was staying. I told him I had to deal with another player,’ said Cullen. ‘So, basically, that’s how it unfolded. I basically took him at his word but he hadn’t actually signed the contract. I don’t know what sort of pressure he was under in the background, but he left us compromised. I was up front
with him from day one, so he knew. ‘If players want to go that’s completely their own business. I’m not going to tell them what’s best for their careers, they can decide that for themselves. ‘He knew there was an effect for someone else, an effect for the players we have here and I can’t say what sort of pressure he was being put under in the background. ‘You’d want to ask him himself.’ Leinster are targeting a third successive win over their arch rivals in a Pro14 semi-final and Cullen has made some big calls for the clash at the Aviva with rookie Will Connors selected ahead of Ireland regular Josh van der Flier at openside flanker. ‘He has the ability just to get off the line and shut attacks down with his chop tackle,’ Cullen explained. ‘Was it 19 or 20 tackles that he made (against Ulster) and some of them when he just stopped the attack dead in its tracks. ‘We’ll be looking for more of the same and hopefully then whenever Josh van der Flier gets on that he’s able to add real impact because, again, Josh has been such an important player for us over
the last number of years. ‘He’s incredibly unlucky to miss out, but he will play an important role I believe in the game.’ Johann van Graan — who is sure to be irked by Cullen’s pre-match comments — has drafted Stephen Archer, Billy Holland and Jack O’Donoghue into the pack for this assignment. Munster have not won a trophy since 2011 and Cullen is anticipating a typically fiery display from the visitors this evening. ‘Over the last number of seasons listening to various different Munster players being interviewed, particularly some of the guys who have been around a while like Peter O’Mahony, Conor Murray, Keith Earls and Billy Holland, and their desperation for silverware — it clearly does mean a lot to them so we know we’re going to be coming up against a team that is very highly motivated as you would expect at the semi-final stage. ‘We need to understand what we’re going to be coming up against. ‘It’s also making sure we focus on ourselves so we deliver a really good Leinster performance as well because that’s ultimately what we’re in control of.’