Cullen pleased to see Leinster get the job done but expecting 'different challenge' from Toulon

The hosts had too much for Sale at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.

Leinster's Dan Sheehan makes a break leading to Jamie Osborne's final try. Pic: INPHO/Dan Clohessy

Leo Cullen said it was pleasing to get the job done after Leinster produced a strong second-half display for the second week in succession at the Aviva Stadium this evening to book their spot in the semi-finals of the European Champions Cup.

31-28 in arrears against Edinburgh early into the second half of their Round of 16 bout in Europe’s top-tier competition last Sunday, Leinster proceeded to amass 21 points without reply to convincingly seal their spot in this weekend’s last-eight.

Fast forward to tonight’s fare at home to English Premiership outfit Sale Sharks and the eastern province were just four points to the good (7-3) at the midway stage of the action. Yet despite an uneven display in the opening period, Leinster were much more fluid on the resumption and ultimately secured a 43-13 triumph to advance into the penultimate phase of the Champions Cup for a sixth consecutive season.

“It’s just pleasing to get the job done in different ways. We were sitting here last week, it was a bizarre game. This week was such a different challenge. Sale and the way they play, they’re going to test you out,” Leinster head coach Cullen remarked in his post-match press conference this evening.

“If you stay brave, keep playing your game and being a little bit more clinical in terms of some of the work on the ground in possession, accuracy at the ruck, you get your rewards. Fair play to the players, I thought they got some great rewards as it went on.

“Listen, that’s the way we want to play the game, isn’t it? It’s enjoyable to play and for people to come and watch as well. We’ll see. Different challenge with Toulon, but we’ve a few more weeks before we’ve to worry about them.” 

As Cullen mentions, Leinster are now set to face Toulon in the last-four of the Champions Cup after the Top 14 side overcame Glasgow Warriors in their quarter-final encounter earlier on Saturday.

Their higher ranking in the pool stages means the Irish province will welcome Toulon to the Aviva Stadium in three weeks’ time. While Leinster will have United Rugby Championship clashes against Ulster and Benetton to focus on before then, he did offer his initial thoughts on facing Pierre Mignoni’s charges.

“They've an all-star squad, haven't they? They've plenty of firepower there. It's another great challenge for us as a group. It's great to be again in the semi-final of the tournament, but we know how bloody tough it is. Glasgow are probably the form team in Europe going into this weekend. They managed to get the job done up there,” Cullen added.

“They're a team that causes plenty of pain. Towards the tail end of my playing career and into my early coaching career. It causes a lot of pain. Some very, very tough days against them that I can remember. They're a team with some serious firepower, but in between now and then, we've got some URC action to look forward to.”