We’ll give it our all – Cullen

Editor

Leinster forwards coach Leo Cullen believes this week's Champions Cup semi-final clash with Toulon will be their "biggest test" of the season.

The former second-row and captain is under no illusions of the task that faces his charges in Marseille on Sunday when he spoke to the media in Dublin.

And on the back of a disappointing loss at the Dragons denting their PRO12 play-off hopes, Cullen admits Leinster have their work cut out this weekend.

"It's the biggest test [the squad] are going to face this season, I think. What Toulon have done over the last couple of years has been incredibly impressive, backing it up with two trophies and in a semi-final again," he told Leinster's official website.

"Everyone understands the challenge. From our end we haven't performed to the levels expected and that's hugely disappointing. But this is knockout rugby. One game. We just need to make sure that we prepare as best we can.

"We got well beaten in that quarter-final [last season], even though it was quite close at half-time – we'd weathered the storm – but we didn't control the game particularly well at the start of the second half."

He added: "They've got massive talent across the board; the depth of the squad that they have, the budget that they're able to operate. They rested guys at the weekend and still had over 650 international caps on the pitch. 

"They're operating from a different place, but we understand that challenge now and I think the lads have a pretty good understanding of what's expected. We'll go there with a plan, will give it our all and that's all we can expect of the lads."