Car crash for Reds HE’S CULLEN IT AS HE SEES IT..
BLUES CRUISE TO WIN
Leinster Edinburgh The RDS, 7.35pm
v LEO CULLEN warns officials must be more vigilant against play-acting.
The rules of rugby have been tightened up further but the Leinster boss says: “It’s important that we’re still instilling the right values because it shouldn’t be about playacting.
“If we’re seeing guys play-acting we’ll point it out.
“We might say, ‘Will you keep an eye on this guy because this is what we’re seeing in his previous three or four games’.
“We need to try to help behind the scenes and say, ‘What are you going to do about it?’.
“We don’t want to go down the line of other sports, where play-acting is rewarded.”
Cullen’s comments come after Edinburgh boss Richard Cockerill claimed Connacht players cheated with repeated infringements last week.
And they follow Geordan Murphy’s comments – later retracted – that the game had become “too PC” after his Leicester player Will Spencer was sent off for a high tackle.
Leinster welcome Edinburgh to the RDS tonight and there will be a reunion of sorts on the sidelines, with Cullen having played under Cockerill at Leicester.
“He’s a very good coach and I learned a hell of a lot from him,” said the Blues boss.
“It was a long time ago now, between 2005 and 2007, and he has a tonne of experience since then. He’s seen it all, Richard.” CARDIFF BLUES picked up their first win of the season as a superb display sent Munster packing at the Arms Park.
Blues had lost their previous three games, each by a margin of less than two points, but ensured there would be no repeat by scoring four tries.
They made a blistering start and a terrific burst from Willis Halaholo set up an early try for Nick Williams.
Munster responded with their first try when the home side lost possession on halfway and Andrew Conway capitalised by kicking ahead to win the race for the touchdown.
Worse was to follow for Cardiff when the visitors scored their second try within the space of three minutes. Joey Carbery burst clear from inside his own 22 to run 70 metres and, when the ball was recycled, Conway sneaked over in the corner.
The frenetic opening continued with a fourth try in only 16 minutes as Halaholo tore the visitors’ defence to shreds before providing Tomos Williams with an easy run-in.
The second quarter was less hectic, with Carbery’s long range penalty the only addition to the scoreboard to leave Munster trailing 14-13 at interval.
Within three minutes of the restart, Blues had their third try when a fine pass from Gareth
Anscombe sent the outstanding
Halaholo outside his man and over the line.
Anscombe then converted with a superb touchline kick before knocking over two penalties to give
Blues a healthy
27-13 lead going into the final 15 minutes.
Munster never looked like clawing back the deficit as they continued to make unforced errors against a Blues side who had too much pace and determination.
And the home side were rewarded when Anscombe fired over another long-range kick before a second try from Tomos Williams completed a miserable night for the Reds. the