Leinster best yet to come

LEINSTER head coach Leo Cullen acknowledged there is still scope for growth within his side despite their convincing Heineken Champions Cup semi-final win over Toulouse at the Aviva Stadium.

Antoine Dupont’s breakaway try edged Toulouse in front during the early stages of this heavyweight clash, but tries from James Lowe (two), Josh van der Flier and Hugo Keenan propelled Leinster into their first European final since 2019.

Cullen said: ‘I thought it was a good performance overall. There’s still room for growth as always, but to deliver a big performance in a semi-final, it’s pleasing.’

No matter who Leinster face in the Champions Cup decider in Marseille on May 28, they will find themselves up against familiar foes. Racing 92 provided the opposition when Cullen’s men last tasted European glory in 2018, while La Rochelle defeated them 32-23 at the semi-final stage last season.

Whereas Cullen’s former Ireland team-mate Ronan O’Gara coaches La Rochelle, another Irishman in Mike Prendergast is part of Racing’s coaching team.

‘I was listening to Mike Prendergast talking about the desire of Racing to win a European star,’ added Cullen. It’s a big goal of theirs. And we lost that semi-final against La Rochelle last year.

‘At this stage of the tournament you need to be delivering close to your best against the best.’