Cullen: 'Always a fear' against Zebre

With no victories and just nine bonus points to their name, Italian outfit Zebre are guaranteed a bottom place finish in this season’s RaboDirect PRO 12 but Leinster captain Leo Cullen is taking nothing for granted ahead of Sunday’s clash in Italy.

Leinster go to Zebre in search of a bonus point victory which would take them a step closer to a home semi-final in the league play-offs.

The match has been moved to the Stadio Citta del Tricolore in Reggio Emilia to raise funds for victims of an earthquake that hit the region last year.

Cullen believes the emotion attached to the occasion, coupled with Zebre’s desperation not to end the season winless, will make for a stern test.

“There’s always a fear coming up against a team like Zebre,” Cullen told LTV.

“They haven’t won in the league this year, having said that, they came really close a couple of times, and there’s a real danger there.

“It’s coming to the end of the season and I’m sure they’re really desperate to get a win.

“Obviously, it’s a big game for them this weekend, they’re making an appeal for the earthquake victims of last year so I’m sure it’s going to be a big occasion for them.”

Joe Schmidt’s men go into Sunday’s game on the back of an impressive 16-22 win over Munster in Thomond Park last weekend.

Reflecting on the game, Cullen admitted he was impressed with the way his team battled back in the second half.

“It was obviously a pretty difficult game but, we’re delighted with the result.

“It wasn’t perfect at times, I thought we struggled to get much shape in our attack.

“We were playing into a pretty strong wind in the second half and were four points down five minutes into that half.

“I thought the lads showed really good character trying to get back into the game.”

The 35-year-old second row is determined to soldier on for at least one more season at the RDS having signed a new one-year deal in March.

But Cullen doesn’t want to look beyond the end of the current season, believing the blues are in a strong position to challenge for silverware.

“At the moment just looking forward to the next couple of weeks, hopefully we’ll be involved in some semi-finals and potentially finals as well.

“That’s what all the slog is for during the year, to get ourselves in those positions and try and finish off as best we can.”