Cullen: Urges team-mates to 'dig deep'
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Leinster captain Leo Cullen believes that the squad are heading into an exciting but season-defining few weeks starting with the visit of Connacht on Saturday.
The Dublin club dropped to sixth in the standings last week following a 27-19 loss to Ulster, who lead the way with a perfect record with 11 games played.
Connacht are the visitors to the Aviva Stadium on Saturday and the 34-year-old has called for his team-mates to grind out some 'big results' and close the gap on the teams above them.
"From our perspective we have to try and build some momentum coming into a busy next few weeks which will go a long way to defining the rest of the season," Cullen told the club's official website.
"We need some big results and we need to try and get some more rhythm to our play. We need to be more careful about giving quality sides easy opportunities to keep the scoreboard ticking over. These kinds of games are won and lost over the finest of margins.
"We learned a few harsh lessons over in the Sportsground last time out against Connacht. They brought greater physicality to the game and they dominated us in that regard in Galway. We can't allow them to have that kind of an upper hand again.
"So as 2012 draws to a close and we move into a new year, it's still all to play for. My first wish is that we get a few more points on the board. When we get a few more bodies on the deck that will boost competition for places because we've been disrupted through the first half of the season and we have lacked a bit of fluency thus far.
"Ulster are racing clear at the top of the table and they're going to be very hard to rein in, so we need to dig deep to get back into the top four. Then we travel to Edinburgh in the PRO12 before facing Scarlets at home in Europe and then travel to Exeter Chiefs where they have a great record at home.
"By the end of January we'll know our fate and we have a bit of ground to catch up on. And, for us, that process starts this weekend."
Comments
new_j4a says...
@Sincero, Such couth! Such sportsmanship. Such resolution in the face of certain humiliation. Very British, old boy. Jolly fine thing to see some modicum of civility has rubbed off after centuries of endeavor.
Posted 08:27 29th December 2012
Sincero says...
Even if we do get 5 points in Devon we're bunched, I'm afraid. Toulon will send a 4th-string team to Montpellier and lose badly because they'll have top-spot secured and will be focused on the Top 14. If I'm right about that it becomes mathematically impossible for Leinster. Still... keep the hope alive- cheer them to the bitter end! Everyone to Exeter!!!
Posted 16:14 28th December 2012
deprop says...
Leinster will qualify and become the first team to win 3 in a row; the first team to win the HC who did not top their group and will be th first team to beat Clermont in Stade MM in the qtr final. Now, where did I leave those pills ?
Posted 14:29 28th December 2012
Sincero says...
Even if we do get 5 points in Devon we're bunched, I'm afraid. Toulon will send a 4th-string team to Montpellier and lose badly because they'll have top-spot secured and will be focused on the Top 14. If I'm right about that it becomes mathematically impossible for Leinster. Still... keep the hope alive- cheer them to the bitter end! Everyone to Exeter!!!
Posted 13:39 28th December 2012
melkdave says...
His right season defining few weeks ahead for Leinster.They might scrape into the HC knockout stages ,but i have to be honest ,i dont think they will,even with 2 wins ,and tbh i feel Exeter will just nick a victory at home.So Pro12 will be Leinsters and Munsters priority in 2013 imo.and again being honest only the Ospreys offer any oppoistion there as i suspect Ulster will concentrate on the HC
Posted 13:03 28th December 2012
leinster_goy says...
@Armchair General
in all likelihood, exeter will be beaten soundly by clermont in the auvergne and Leinster will bag a bonus point win against scarlets at the rds. that will leave exeter with nothing to play for in round 6...except pride. it's likely that their attention will have shifted to the premiership. i agree that they're a good side but remember that after a game effort against clermont, they got tired out then had their arses handed to them on a plate. if Leinster turn up there with a full-strength side (Drico, Robbo and Fitzy are back in 2 weeks, FYI) and the right attitude, i foresee a similar result
not saying it will definitely happen of course, given the way we've been playing this year. but be careful: writing off this Leinster team is a very dangerous thing indeed (aren't you a northampton fan?)
Posted 12:35 28th December 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
They were lucky to beat Exeter at home in Exeters first HC game ever vs a Leinster as unbeaten HC champs. Exeter are an emerging team and at home now with 2 HC wins and Leinster are beaten in their HC pool and struggling in the pro12 too. Can't see a Lenister win in Devon. Of course if luck or BOD returns who knows!
Posted 09:43 28th December 2012