Same old story for Leinster.
Another year, another massive underachievement for Leinster in the Champions Cup.
Starting in 2021, Leinster have lost out in either the semis or finals in the last five editions of the Champions Cup.
For three years in a row it was La Rochelle, last year it was Toulouse, and this year they have found a new demon in Northampton after yesterday’s 34-37 loss to the English side.
While Leo Cullen’s official title is ‘head coach’ of Leinster, he is more of a director of rugby, with Jacques Nienaber taking on more coaching responsibilities.
Cullen has done a fine job in turning the province into a club that has one of, if not the best, squad in Europe, with a constant conveyor belt of top players and coaches, but fans are starting to lose their patience after the latest failure.
However, Cullen was adamant after the game, when asked was he the right man to lead the team.
He said: “Yeah, I think I am,” he said when asked if he was the person to get Leinster over the line again. “Yeah. I believe that I am, yes. I think we’ve worked hard to try and improve the group year on year on year and I think the group is very strong right now.
“As I said, that’s not something that’s just created last week, it’s year on year and I think we’ve a stronger group now.
“We’ve lost three finals over the last three years, yeah, but I believe we’ve a stronger group now than we’ve had and that’s the way I will continue to approach the day to day in terms of preparing the short term, medium term, long term.
“So, yes. And I’m very committed to that as well.”
