World is finally Cullen’s oyster

LEO CULLEN could have cited revenge as a motivating factor for success against the United States on Sunday but there are reasons aplenty why the Leinster captain has a point to prove at international level.

Should Cullen be given the nod to start in the Irish second row against the Eagles, the 33-year-old lock will be making his World Cup debut in New Plymouth this weekend. Cullen was twice overlooked by former Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan, omitted from both the 2003 and 2007 squads.

And for all his success at provincial level with two Heineken Cup winners’ medals to his name, dislodging the Munster second row of Donncha O’Callaghan and Paul O’Connell has been a constant struggle and Cullen feels there is still another rung to climb after just 31 caps gathered since June 2001.

“I still feel as if I’ve a lot to prove in terms of international rugby,” Cullen said. “I feel like I’ve a lot to give and so I’m just looking forward to getting an opportunity. My international career hasn’t always gone the way I would have liked and four years ago I would have thought my chance was gone.

“I probably feel better now than I did four years ago [physically] but I feel if I’ve a point to prove and I’m looking forward to getting an opportunity and showcase myself.”

Cullen was set to leave Leicester Tigers in 2007, when O’Sullivan ignored his claims for a World Cup spot. The 6ft 6ins lock returned to Leinster and hasn’t looked back since as the province has gone from strength to strength, banishing the 2003-07 World Cup cycle from the memory banks.

“Those four years were pretty lean internationally with the odd two or three caps. It wasn’t great. But coming back to Leinster and being in pretty good form over the last couple of years, has helped get in the shop window again.

“Missing out in 2003 was particularly bad. I remember when Eddie rang me in 2007, I was expecting him to call so it wasn’t that big a deal. I wished the team all the best. In my head I thought I could have done a good job but I was realistic at the same time. I hadn’t been involved. But 2003 was a tough one all right.”

It wasn’t all down to the vagaries of the selection process, though. Fitness issues had been another regular source of frustration between 03 and 07.

“I was just struggling, with shoulders in particular, but that’s sort of come around. I had surgery last May and wasn’t too sure how that would go because I had surgery before and it didn’t go that well. I was struggling, training, playing and was constantly dislocating my shoulder and coming off. I don’t have those issues now and I’m able to play my more natural game.”

Which gives Cullen a better chance of disrupting the Munster duo and finally stringing some international appearances together.

“It’s hard to get a continuous run in the team, that’s something I’ve never had,” he said. “That’s what motivates me, probably, more than anything else, the hope of getting a consistent run in the team.”

A start against O’Sullivan’s Eagles then, would tick a number of boxes for Cullen, just as a convincing victory for Ireland would.

“I think the August games served a certain purpose,” Cullen said. “A lot of people would have liked to have seen us win one of those games in terms of a bit of confidence. But they’re in the past now and we need to win the game this weekend and try and get as much out of it as we can.

“The August games were like pre-season friendlies and it was unusual that they were full-blown internationals and had a lot more coverage than maybe pre-season games normally would. But that’s the situation we’re in and it’s important to get a good performance at the weekend.”

Cullen has already watched plenty of footage of the Americans in action, most notably their three summer warm-up defeats, two against Canada and their final hit against Japan.

“They’re coached by a guy that knows us pretty well. They’ve got a lot of decent athletes in the team and a mix of experience with the odd guy who’s played in France or South Africa, even in England. So there’s a pretty broad mix of experience in their team.

“They definitely have a lot of potential threats and we just need to be on our game.

“It’s a World Cup and it’s a massive challenge. These are one-off games and I’m sure these guys will be champing at the bit for the opportunity to play and beat a team that’s higher in the world rankings than they are.

“America will know us very, very well and I’m sure they’ve been plotting for this game for a very, very long time...”