BLUES JUST

Cullen hails world-beater Nienaber’s huge influence

in style, playing lead actor under dedicated arc-light rather than understudy taken from the chorus.

La Rochelle and Ronan O’Gara, it transpired, had miscalculated on two fronts; what the canny coach had hoped would be inspiration gleaned from basing themselves in Cork for a week turned to perspiration as the half-hour approached.

Les Martimes looked weary from La Rochelle-Paris-Cape TownParis-Cork-Dublin travelling.

Storm

A coming storm hit La Rochelle immediately on kick-off and if the story of ROG and the rise and rise of ROG has often been the tale of his remarkable belief in the threesix-nine rugby philosophy.

Then Cullen’s specific four-fivesix-seven belief — the jersey numbers of Joe McCarthy, Jason Jenkins, Baird and Conners — proved the better numerical progression .

McCarthy doesn’t often do 80 minutes but his physicality is notable throughout, 10 carries for 10 metres, 10 tackles, two missed.

The South African Jenkins rarely gets the big credits but his hour (20 minutes less than McCarthy) comprised seven carries for nine metres while TWELVE tackles and one miss was a super contribution in the white heat of the hour he played.

Jenkins’ inclusion left Baird the responsibility for the line-out calling on top of his own role, so particular credit there; he is now locked-on to inherit the international spot as Peter O’Mahony enters his final lap.

While Will Connors, a nine-times capped Ireland international who may have been unfairly labelled a one-hit wonder following his 47 minutes in the 16-9 win at La Rochelle last December, landed a ‘Ooops, I Did it Again’ second smash hit with his 48 minutes on Saturday.

“Thankfully, it wasn’t a one score game today,” said Cullen. “It was