Leo Cullen says Leinster need boost before Toulon tie

Bath 19 Leinster 16: The words Leo Cullen used on Saturday evening were designed to instil optimism, but the evidence is damning and the fact is Leinster’s Rugby Champions Cup ambitions are all but over for the season after just two games.

Defeat to Wasps at the RDS eight days ago loaded this outing to one of Britain’s most beautiful cities with extra meaning and, though some aspects of the performance were much improved, Leinster couldn’t avoid registering back-to-back opening defeats in Europe for the first time since 1996.

Next up: Toulon. Oh, brother.