Captain Fantastic Cullen ready to face familiar foes

AN OUTSIDER doesn’t get to captain Leicester Tigers without being a deserving recipient; neither, even, does a homegrown player get to lead Leinster in the face of a challenge from national captain and rugby’s iconic Brian O’Driscoll.

Very few come back to resurrect an international career that was flagging during his sojourn across the water, but Leo Cullen has done it all.

He has been that overseas guy to lead a very parochial club in England 15 times out of 56 appearances and has participated in 12 Heineken Cup games with the club. He also came back to lead Leinster to a first Heineken Cup title, to play a significant role in Ireland’s Grand Slam last season and, now he is ready for more.

But one of the biggest challenges of his career will come this evening in Thomond Park against Munster.

He offered all the usual platitudes to the team Leinster stripped of the European title in a record-breaking semi-final at Croke Park last season, but you know by his words that he has respect for this particular opposition.

Cullen offered some excuses for Leinster’s rather lethargic performance against Connacht at the RDS last week when they were deemed downright lucky to secure a late 17-14 victory.

He pointed out: “Training has been a bit disjointed over the last while and it was the same last week with the return of the international players from Ireland camp, so it was hardly ideal preparation.

“When you come up against a team like Connacht who are together for longer periods without too much disruption to their personnel, you have to adapt fast and to their credit they looked more cohesive and were unlucky not to come away with something more from the game.”

But neither is he of the mind to bring those excuses on a week, and he admitted: “We got out of jail and the players know that we will have to improve this time because we’re coming up against an in-form Munster team who have been steadily improving.

“Their forwards make up the majority of the Ireland pack and they have real experience and class in their half-back combinations. When you supplement that to some quality overseas players in the likes of Doug Howlett, Lifeimi Mafi and Paul Warwick it makes for a potent combination alongside some exciting outside backs.”

Leinster currently lead the hunt for Magners League honours and nothing would delight Cullen more than putting ever-improving Munster into a further scramble to make the play-offs.

“Of course, he said, “it’s a league game with points up for grabs, and from a club perspective we want to secure a home semi-final, but derby games have more spice and some of us have been at it for ten years or more so you have a fair indication of what to expect come kick-off.

“There’s always added scene when you come up against colleagues from international camp and the familiarity that brings; coupled with the incredible support in the stands and terraces it makes it a massive occasion but a privilege to be a part of.”

LEINSTER team: R Kearney, G Dempsey, F McFadden, G D'Arcy, I Nacewa, J Sexton, E Reddan, S Wright, J Fogarty, CJ van der Linde, L Cullen (capt), D Toner, N Hines, S Jennings, J Heaslip.