Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
BANISH BLEUS
Cullen: Go & silence the doubters
LEO CULLEN believes Sunday’s clash with France offers Ireland a chance to send a message to the rugby world.
The Leinster boss has watched as Joe Schmidt’s men have struggled to hit the heights that saw them named World Rugby Team of the Year in 2018, losing to England in the opening game, before edging unconvincingly past Scotland and Italy.
Now the French come to town, and Cullen, inset, expects to see a determined response from the boys in green.
He said: “If you look where Ireland sit at the moment, there’s a lot of noise and commentary about the performance part of the three games so far, but I look at it that Ireland are playing at home against France and there’s an opportunity there.
“The last time they played [at home] was against England, and that’s where a lot of the commentary is stemming from, that’s my impression.
“Now there’s an unbelievable chance to go out against France and put down a real statement, about the way they want to play – that’s what they’re in control of.
“If they go out and put in a big performance and get as much from the game as possible, depending on how other games go, you’re still alive in the championship, that’s what you can focus on.”
Schmidt admits the England defeat rocked his men, but Cullen says it’s all about how Ireland respond that matters.
Cullen added: “I remember watching the French game [in 2018] with a few friends, and when Teddy Thomas scored that try .... To win, Ireland would then have to win the dropout, then work their way up the field... as it was unfolding it was like we’d lost the first game of the championship and there was so much at stake.
“The game against England was so finely balanced, and it can have such a deflating effect losing the first game of the championship. “When you lose to England it’s ‘triple crown’s gone, grand slam’s gone’, it’s deflating, you’ve got to try and get yourself back up.”
He added: “In their defence they’ve had two wins off the back of lots of chopping and changing, they’ve tried a lot of players and I’m sure they’ve learned a huge amount so far – and they’re still in with a chance.”