Leo Cullen needs time while Leinster leaders must step up

One can only speculate as to the rollercoaster of emotions going through Johnny Sexton’s mind last weekend. The picture of him grimacing, with his hands covering his face on the final whistle after Leinster’s Champions Cup opener against Wasps at the RDS only told part of the story.

For anyone who had just spent the previous two years living in Paris, the horrific events of last Friday night must have taken an emotional toll. Sexton’s son Luca was born in the French capital and his thoughts must have extended to all involved in Racing 92’s playing, coaching and administrative staff when details of the series of terrorist attacks came to light.

The first people I thought of were the O’Garas, Ronan, his wife Jessie, and their five young kids. Thankfully, ROG’s tweet on Saturday reassured everyone he and his family were all safe. One can only speculate just how difficult it was for the French clubs who went ahead with their respective fixtures in the Champions and Challenge Cups played outside of France last Saturday.