Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
CONNACHT v LEINSTER GET BACK ON THE HORSE
Returning Ireland stars have to deal with sense of anti-climax
LEO CULLEN admits his challenge is to manage the “anti-climax” of a return to action for Leinster’s World Cup contingent.
Six of the 14 Blues players who were involved in Japan will feature at the Sportsground tonight, including starters Robbie Henshaw, Cian Healy, Andrew Porter and Luke Mcgrath.
Jack Carty starts for Connacht with Bundee Aki on the bench as the centre is available for the first time since his red card against Samoa.
Both sides are unbeaten in the PRO14 and, with their Champions
Cup campaigns starting the following weekend, maintaining that form is important.
“We’re all gutted for the lads coming back in because we see how much work they put into it,” said Cullen (inset).
“Because of the way the World Cups are built up, it’s such a huge period. And then you deal with the fallout.
“It’s going to be a little bit of an anti-climax for guys coming back in. That’s just a fact we have to deal with.
“We haven’t seen the guys since the end of May, really.
“The odd day here and there, but it’s trying to get us all understanding what we’re trying to do.
“That’s going to take a bit of time and that’s why we’ll make assessments on individuals. We’ll try and do what’s best for the group and slowly but surely everyone will get over it.
“It’s on to the next thing. That’s just the nature of it.”
Cullen notes that Leinster are in a more stable position than after the 2015 World Cup, just after he had taken over the reins from Matt O’connor.
“That was very, very challenging,” the 41-yearold recalled.
The Blues have made the Champions Cup final in their last two attempts, winning in 2017, while winning back to back PRO14 titles.
But Cullen stressed: “It doesn’t guarantee us any success versus what we had four years ago.
“Everyone’s saying we’re going great but we know we’ve been going great in the past, gone to Galway and not done particularly well, and then a bit of pressure builds.
“So it’s a perfect game for our guys because we know how tough it is there. We need to embrace the challenge.
“There’s a lot of pressure. It’s a great place to play because the crowd are into you down there from minute one, the pressure builds on us if we’re getting distracted by all the other variables that are going on down there.
“So our guys just need to be very clear on what it’s going to be like, the challenge of playing against players that are hugely motivated – and will always raise their game for this.”