Cullen and Lancaster are now the hot favourites to take over Ireland
IN TERMS of high-end skill and entertainment, this final was less epic than epic fail. Let’s be honest, it was a kick-peppering pig of a match, dictated by distinctly un-Spanish, wet and greasy conditions and the incrementally claustrophobic tension as the game wore on.
The reality is Leinster were incredibly lucky yesterday.
Lucky that Racing did not have Dan Carter to call upon when they needed winning plays late on, lucky that their French opponents fell victim to poor discipline and inexcusable error at critical moments, lucky that they survived the obvious ringrustiness of a three-week lay-off and lucky that Teddy Thomas lost the leave of his senses to gift Leinster a winning position by running into touch after a brilliant lineout steal.
However, those details of outrageous fortune matter not a whit when stock is taken of what Leinster have achieved in this remarkable run to their fourth European Cup crown.
The fact the Irish province staggered over the finish line does not detract from the fluidity of their journey to the Bilbao decider and, given the quality of opposition they disposed of so impressively along the way, no one can dispute that Leinster were worthy winners of this Champions Cup.
This achievement is all the more laudable given where they resided a few seasons ago. When Leo Cullen took over the province he had led to the summit of Europe three times as a player, the worry was that it was too much, too soon — fears that were borne out by Leinster finishing bottom of their Champions Cup pool in his first season at the helm.
That was the tournament when the knock-out stages were populated entirely by the English and French teams who had annexed European rugby’s premier club competition while the Irish provinces were presented with a bleak, budget-compromised landscape.
For Leinster to get from that point to this is testament to their collective will and focus and Cullen, as head man, deserves enormous — far more than he has been afforded. If you were to go by the English media, it is as though Cullen does not exist — the story of redemption for Stuart Lancaster commanding all the attention. The phrase ‘Stuart Lancaster’s Leinster’ featured heavily in the buildup to yesterday’s final — while the former England boss, ripped apart unjustly after the 2015 World Cup failure on home soil, has also been touted here as a candidate to succeed Joe Schmidt as Ireland coach with the Kiwi expected to leave after the 2019 World Cup.
All of this focus on his senior coach has been disrespectful and insulting to the contribution of ultimate overseer Cullen. It was Cullen who had the humility to realise that he needed help in the top job and turn first to former New Zealand head coach Graham Henry, and then Lancaster, for assistance.
It was also an incredibly brave move on Cullen’s part as there followed inevitable speculation that the genial Wicklow man had been sidelined and that Lancaster was ‘running the show’.
There is certainly a degree of truth to that in a hands-on coaching capacity, a fact that has been repeatedly referenced by the players, but it is Cullen who has created the environment for Lancaster to flourish at Leinster by allowing him to focus on doing what he does best — improving rugby players -— while removing all the extraneous management duties that weighed him down so heavily with England.
Cullen’s role is, essentially, direccredit tor of rugby, which takes in off-field areas like contract negotiations, recruitment, team selection and the majority of media obligations — taxing and draining responsibilities Lancaster no longer has to concern himself with.
In tandem, Cullen has addressed the issue of closing the gap with the cash-rich French and English clubs by focusing on self-generation from within — the focus on bringing through homegrown talent representing not only sound financial policy but also one which has strengthened Leinster’s sense of cultural identity.
Having talented players proud to play for their home province, with a selection of talented overseas recruits added to the mix, creates a power and sense of purpose that
‘FOR LEINSTER TO GET HERE IS TESTAMENT TO THEIR WILL AND FOCUS’
allows Leinster to compete with their millionaire-backed rivals in England and France.
And it is perhaps this element, more than any other that has most impressed Lancaster and permitted him to be such a notable addition to the management mix. It also begs the question as to how far this successful union can go?
In 2008, Ireland turned to Declan Kidney on the back of his work in taking Munster to the summit of the European game and, in 2013, the followed the same policy on the back of Schmidt’s success with Leinster.
So, if the policy of elevating management from Ireland’s most successful province is to be pursued again when Schmidt moves on, why break up a partnership that has been working so well?
Cullen’s name has not yet been linked with the Ireland job but it deserves to be after yesterday.
Having him as head man with the national team while bringing in Lancaster as his senior coach would be a progressive way to go – and pragmatic based on this evidence.
Of course, there is the question of Andy Farrell — Lancaster’s former assistant with England and current Ireland defence coach, who could well have designs on the top job himself - but the priority is to assess what is best for the greater good.
And that looks to be keeping Cullen and Lancaster together — yesterday could be a significant launchpad for a partnership that grows stronger the longer it is kept together.
Leinster are the primary feeders into the Ireland team and this European Cup title is testament to the management direction that has lifted them to such heights.
But it all feeds into the bigger picture of national progression and tapping into the Leo Cullen-Stuart Lancaster Leinster success story now seems the obvious way to go.
‘HIS NAME HAS NOT BEEN LINKED TO THE JOB BUT IT WILL NOW’