Easy win but leaky defence concern for Leo

LEO Cullen has told his Leinster players to shore up their defence or get punished in the ‘finals rugby’ at the end of the season.

The PRO14 and Champions Cup holders are in great a position to defend both crowns, and after Friday’s nine-try win over Southern Kings they had moved 27 points clear at the top of Conference B.

Noel Reid and Ed Byrne both scored twice but the home side were only 24-19 in front four minutes into the second half and Cullen wants improvement.

“The win and bonus point is good and keeps us ticking along in our conference,” said Cullen. “There are parts that we will look at, particularly defensively, where we got pulled apart.

“We are scoring plenty, but as we get into our finals rugby at the end of the season, if you ship 19 points suddenly you are under pressure. It’s something that we want to shore up.”

Leinster have now scored 82 tries in 16 PRO14 games and started well when Reid got his first after just six minutes.

But a week on from their 43-0 hammering at the hands of Munster, Kings stayed in contention and trailed 24-12 at half-time.

Reid and Ed Byrne had scored twice but two tries from Bjorn Basson and Sarel Pretorious ensured Kings were still alive.

Ulrich Beyers scored to reduce the lead to only five points but Barry Daly hit back and as Kings tired, Andrew Porter, Max Deegan, Paddy Patterson and Rory O’Loughlin scored further tries.