Cullen moves on from the England downer

LEO CULLEN describes it as the worst news he ever had to take.

After playing some part in each of the ten games that Eddie O'Sullivan's side went unbeaten, he was brought to one side and told he would play no part in the Grand Slam decider against England the biggest game in Irish rugby history.

Gutted. Cullen could feel his heart wrench. Even now, weeks later, he grimaces at the memory.

"I felt pretty aggrieved," he admits. "It was the hardest piece of news I ever had to come to terms with. Probably the most disappointing aspect was I was playing so well. But, you have to move on, you can't dwell on the past too much. I have been fortunate that Leinster are going well, so my focus could shift straight away onto another big game."

Still, the memory burns. Not even to be included in the squad was a difficult thing to swallow.

"Well, Paul [O'Connell] was coming back from injury, Eddie thought he might provide the impact on the day. It was pretty horrendous stuff. I never reacted that badly to news before. What made it worse was I had to stay with the team all week. Now, I just have to look forward to my next chance when it comes."

That Cullen will get another chance to play himself onto the World Cup squad seems a given, but Perpignan is now the target after a lacklustre Leinster performance against Biarritz."It was a difficult game for us," he admits, "as most of our lads had been away with the Irish set-up, but it was a great day. The atmosphere was amazing."

Although the French champions were dealt with, even if the manner was less than convincing, Perpignan offer a different sort of challenge. To many observers, they have been the most impressive French team in the competition.

"They are a tough, physical side," Cullen agrees. "Look, they topped the toughest group in Europe, and beat both Munster and Gloucester with something to spare at home. They mightn't have the big names of Biarritz or Toulouse, but they are very tough. A lot of their game is based around their forwards and they will try to dominate us up front."

Which is where the role of Cullen becomes so significant. In the past 18 months, Cullen has developed into a second row of some steel, despite an impromptu conversion from the number eight jersey he had worn through his schools and youths career.

"All through school, I played as a number eight. It was only when I came into the Leinster set-up that I came into the second row. I think it has to do with the game evolved. More powerful ball-carriers are now picked as the number eight, while the game needs more mobility from their second row."

The understanding furrowed between himself, Shane Byrne and Mal O'Kelly, which came to the fore in Ireland games, has also seen Cullen develop this season.

Quarter-final aside, there is now a real belief that Leinster could snatch the European Cup this year. Indeed, every Irish rugby supporter will be praying that this weekend serves up the dream final in Lansdowne.

"Well, it would certainly be the media's idea of a dream final," Cullen laughs. "As soon as Munster beat Leicester, I suppose people were talking about the possibility. Obviously, with their disappointments in the past few years, Munster will feel it is their year, but we would be pretty hopeful it is our year, too."

At only 25, Cullen has a few more years to go in his professional career. And a few more points to prove.

Another solid display, of the sort that has typified his season this weekend, and Cullen will not only be one step away from a European Cup medal, but one step closer to one of those planes that are heading Down Under later this year.