‘Jeepers, I’m not feeling Xabi Alonso’s pressure’ - Cullen defends Leinster after Tigers slog 

GETTING THERE: Leinster's James Ryan, Dan Sheehan and Diarmuid Mangan celebrate after the game. Pic: INPHO/James Crombie

A gritty win at a point of the season where peak performance is not the be-all and end-all, or a worrying sign of a side in decline? Opinions on Leinster’s 12-23 victory away over Leicester will differ. No prizes for guessing what Leo Cullen’s thoughts are.

“We’re not where we want to be but..the lads stuck at it,” said the Leinster boss. “We could have taken another one or two opportunities, made life a lot easier but I was pleased we were able to figure a way out through a bit of a dogfight.” 

There is an argument that, at this stage of the season, Leinster can’t win in the court of public opinion. Remain unimpressive at this juncture, the verdict is they won’t challenge the French clubs come the knockouts. Walk all over a depleted Leicester as Ireland and Lions headliners work their way back into form and it means little to their pursuit of silverware. Show us your medals, etc.

It was put to Cullen post match that, given that context, external pressure at this point is unfair. 

“You’ve watched Leicester here a lot, have you?” he responded. “But you’ve watched them play over the years, have you? You know they’re a dogged team. I worry about the opinion of the people inside the four walls. I love you guys [reporters] to bits, but I don’t actually care what you say. I genuinely don’t.

“I love our own group, I really do. I think they’re amazing people. We try to judge ourselves primarily on that. Our fans and supporters, I saw some people in the terrace, a lot of happy faces out there. I care what they think. They looked like they were happy with the performance, by the way, when I was talking to them.

“We’ve come off the back of winning our last two games in the Champions Cup. Why’s it called the Champions Cup? Because it’s the champion teams.” 

Leicester are currently eighth in the Premiership and were missing a number of internationals on Friday, chief among them Ollie Chessum, George Martin and James O’Connor.

“But Leicester were in the final of the Premiership last year, they’re a tough team,” retorted Cullen. “To win here, in their own patch, I played there for two years, as you might or might not know, and they’re an amazing club here. I have only the upmost respect for what they do here.

“For us to come away here and win is a great achievement from our group. Is it perfect? No. How many teams have played the perfect game, who played a perfect game last weekend?

"Pressure is good. I was watching the Champions League during the week and there was a lot of pressure on, what’s the Real Madrid manager, Xabi Alonso. All the pressure on him. I was looking at it thinking, ‘Jeepers, I’m not feeling Xabi Alonso’s pressure.’ But I’d say if he got sacked in the morning, he’d be doing pretty well. Rugby is different.” 

Rightly or wrongly, given the galacticos at their disposal, Leinster will always face pressure. Cullen can bat it away now, but it will return with a vengeance if performance levels don’t improve as Leinster aim for another trophy lift in Bilbao.