Cullen praises the efforts of his champions
LEO CULLEN praised the ‘exceptional’ efforts of his players after Leinster became the first Irish side to win a European Cup and league double by beating Scarlets 4032 in yesterday’s Pro14 final.
Having beaten Racing 92 in the Champions Cup final just two weeks ago before last week’s tense win over Munster in the Pro14 semifinals, Leinster completed the double at Lansdowne Road, running riot in the second half after a slow start to the game.
‘The last couple of weeks have been a mental and physical test for all of us, players and staff, to try and turn it around [after the Champions Cup],’ said Cullen. ‘A huge challenge last week as well in the RDS, dealing with the celebrations etc. But today, after coming over that, because there was a lot of emotion going into that last week, so to try get our feet back on the ground was a challenge. And credit the players, they’re the ones who produce the deeds out on the field and I thought they were exceptional. They really were.
‘Some of the play in the first half, it was pretty attritional but we knew we needed to be direct in how we play Scarlets because if you go too wide or a little bit too loose you come unstuck because they have so many threats. I thought the players really fronted physically in the first half and took some good opportunities then we came at the start of the second half.
‘Thankfully, it was a little bit easier watching than the last two weeks where there was a combined winning margin of four points, so Stuart [Lancaster] is a little bit annoyed with the two tries we conceded at the end, so it’s good to have something to work on leading into the start of pre-season.’
Cullen also singled out his captain Isa Nacewa for special credit after the veteran back limped off just 20 minutes into his final game for the province. Having struggled with a knee injury in recent weeks, Nacewa damaged his calf midway through the opening period and was replaced by Rory O’Loughlin.
‘I feel a little bit like an irresponsible parent, the fact that was he out there in the first place,’ Cullen continued. ‘To see him with the trophy there today, nobody deserves it more so I am delighted for him.’
‘Not the way I envisaged,’ Nacewa said of his final appearance in the blue of Leinster, although he admitted that his recent run of injuries has reaffirmed his belief that now is the right time to walk away from the game.
‘There’s a standard here at Leinster you have to live up to every day and you can’t hide from that. I’m not making that now, so it’s time for me to bow out. But to anyone who has got passion for the game and knows their limits and can keep going, then keep going until you know you mentally and physically need to stop.
‘Talking to Drico during the week, we were chatting about how at some stage, physically, you know you can’t keep going. At times, mentally, you might get to a point where you think “enough is enough”.
‘The Leinster standard here with the young guys coming through and the future that they’ll create themselves if they stay humble and keep working hard is going to be pretty phenomenal to watch and I’ll be in the first row seat keeping an eye on these guys.’
While Scarlets head coach Wayne Pivac was quick to state that he felt Leinster were worthy champions, he also accepted that it is becoming increasingly difficult for teams like his own to compete with the resources available to Cullen’s side, who used 55 players over the course of their double-winning campaign.
‘They have a very good system, and a very good budget,’ said Pivac. ‘They deserved to win that game. Certainly at critical moments in the game they took their opportunities and punished us.’
‘CREDIT THE PLAYERS. I THOUGHT THEY WERE SUPERB’