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The special 'tough f***er' description of Leinster boss Leo Cullen

Leinster boss Leo Cullen (Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Retired Scotland international Jim Hamilton has credited current Leinster boss Leo Cullen with changing his career from a ‘not taken seriously’ player to one who went on to win three Premiership titles, two European Cups, and 63 Test caps for his country.

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Hamilton was part of the Leicester squad in the mid-noughties looking to prosper from the retirement of the legendary Martin Johnson, the 2003 England Rugby World Cup-winning skipper who hung up his boots in 2005.

The second row Hamilton thought he was next in line to graduate to the Leicester first team, so he had the hump when the Tigers signed Cullen on a two-year deal from Leinster.

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However, his anger towards the Irish lock didn’t last and by the end of Cullen’s two-year stay at Welford Road in 2007, he admitted that he “loved” his rival second row for what he had done for the outlook of his game.

Now working for World Rugby Studios, the former Scottish forward was interviewed by Paul Kimmage in the Sunday Independent, a lengthy four-page conversation that included his recollection of his time with Cullen as a teammate in the Leicester set-up.

Fixture
Investec Champions Cup
Leinster
22 - 31
Full-time
Toulouse
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Hamilton was effusive in his praise for Cullen, the current Leinster coach who is preparing for his team’s latest Investec Champions Cup final appearance versus Toulouse on May 25. “Leo Cullen changed the direction of my career,” said Hamilton to Kimmage.

“I was a rogue player on that team, loose, on the piss, fighting, not taken seriously. Then they brought Leo in. At first, I was pissed off because I had come through the Leicester system and thought I was next in line behind Martin Johnson and Ben Kay.

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“Why would they bring him in? But instead of seeing me as a challenge, he took me under his wing and changed the direction of my career.

“Because I was a ‘two’ jumper, I wanted to be the next Martin Johnson, but Leo was like, ‘Have you thought about being a middle jumper?’ I said: ‘No, they’re more athletic’.

“He said, ‘No, I’m a middle jumper. I call the lineouts’, and that was a game-changer for me. And just sitting with him, I thought, ‘I can see a bit of me here’.

“He was very similar to me because, with respect, he wasn’t a gifted athlete but a tough f***er. Just tough. Horrible. Knarly. But in a different way to the way Martin Johnson did it.

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“So he started helping me with the lineouts and it changed the path for me financially as well because I was now this number four who could call a lineout, and calling the lineout was gold back then.

“So I love Leo. I absolutely love him. I love the way he conducted himself around the club. I love that he came from Leinster and played like a Tiger and went back to do what he did.”

Hamilton concluded his admiration of Cullen by adding: “He’s a special bloke and that’s not just my experience – speak to anyone from our generation and they would say the same.

“And the same for Shane Jennings. They lived together, Irish, a bit loose… They enjoyed a good time. They opened up and weren’t guarded. We saw the real them.”

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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