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'We had a good plan, we saw the opportunity to beat the Sharks': Leo Cullen
By Simon Thomas
Leo Cullen was a delighted man as league leaders Leinster bounced back from their first defeat of the season to beat Hollywoodbets Sharks 10-7 in Durban.
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They had suffered last gasp heartbreak in losing to the Vodacom Bulls in Pretoria in Round 13, but they were not to be denied on the second leg of their South African tour.
Replacements Henry Mcerlean and Scott Penny scored the visitors’ two tries, with skipper Max Deegan named Player of the Match after a huge ball-carrying display.
After the final whistle, No 8 Deegan celebrated in style with a swan-dive into the pitch-side pool!
It was a really gritty performance from the table toppers against the Springbok-laden Sharks and all the more impressive given they were without the majority of their Ireland stars.
Head coach Cullen commented: “I am so impressed with this squad. The Six Nations window allows us to bring guys through the system and, the more guys who play for Ireland, the more opportunities we have at club level. That is how we look at it and the timing of this tour to South Africa gave us opportunities at the right time to grow our squad.”
He added: “We had a good plan, we saw the opportunity to beat the Sharks and we worked out a way to do it. It required good intent, and that was plentiful, and we ground it out. We have no regret that it was not the prettiest of contests. We came to a difficult place to win and we are so pleased to get the result.
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“This game was nail-biting, as it was last week in Pretoria, but so many guys were working hard and scrambling. The young guys understood the pride in playing for Leinster. This time, our mental attitude prevailed and we are delighted. To take five points home from South Africa is outstanding.”
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I think Leinster had a plan to win both matches.
The defensive pressure was impressive and it made things hard for sharks with the greasy ball. That’s not an academy team though, a lot of those guys have two SA tours under their belt and a load of Leinster caps. There were a few new caps but so few as to not effect the system. Gunne was a first start but he has had a good few appearances and is a talent in play and attitide.
Sharks reaction to some early errors seemed to shout “Here we go again”.
As good as Leinster played and as hard as they made it, I assumed that Sharks would have the quality to find a way. Leinster slowed the rucks just enough to cause Sharks some issues and overruns etc.
The great Eben Etzebeth was missing and he is clearly great in motivating and driving a team as well as in play. Some thing more than Etzebeth missing. The Leinster players not playing today will be cheering and sucking energy from that performance as much as if they were there. That’s the spirit in the club. Anyone can see how bonded and loyal Snyman, Barrett and Slimani are in a small period of time. I think Leinster have a special setup up there, but Sharks are definately below average in belief, confidence and spirit based on Saturday.
Obviously a straight forward kick for a draw was available at the end but I don’t think that would have been acceptable and Sharks must go for the win at home.
Note: Zebo said in coverage that if Erasmus has the reigns with Sharks they would be no1 in URC and Champions Cup ‘By a distance’. I don’t agree with that ofcourse but in between sucking up to Erasmus he is clearly pinpointing what he believes is a coaching issue.
Congrats to academy Leinster players, easily rolled a vaunted Bok laden squad and handled the ball better than locals could. Plumtree has to go and take Neil with him.
Credit to Leinster. Sharks are heroes against average opposition, and zeros against well-coached teams. Amazing, given the awesome roster.
Plumtree says it was only one score. Hello? Some thoughts: 1/ The best coaches never say that, and 2/ an incremental maul try would not change the fact that the team was boring and static in attack.
Suggestion for Neil Powell: Stop doing whatever you are doing, and do whatever it takes to hire a coaching team with vision.
It’s poor coaching. You can’t argue against the calibre of players at the Sharks disposal. If there are too many egos in that dressing room then get a no nonsense coach like Ackerman to step in.