Leinster boss delighted with Ireland hopeful’s performance in win over Sale Sharks

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen praised fly-half Ciaran Frawley after Saturday’s 37-27 win over Sale Sharks in the Champions Cup in Dublin.

Frawley collected 10 points on the back of two penalties and two conversions. He also missed two conversions in Leinster’s four-try victory.

Topping their pool

The result pushed the Irish province to the top of Pool Four in this season’s Champions Cup with nine points from two wins. They had previously beaten reigning champions La Rochelle.

“You could see Ciaran is nervous. We looked nervy as a team before the game. That’s the thing about a Sale, they are going to test you with their kicking and their physicality. If you’re not accurate, really accurate, then suddenly life becomes a bit difficult,” said Cullen.

“He showed some good composure I thought at times, and he is a constant threat. The forwards were probably better for him in the second half because we were starting to win some of those contact battles, particularly when we had the ball.

“Again, it’s just about making sure that the forwards are winning contact for us. It was pleasing because it was a great experience for him to lead the team.”

Substitutes Joe McCarthy and centre Charlie Ngatai joined the match in the second half – and proved key to Leinster’s recovery from a 13-3 deficit.

“Joe was clever there, going through the contact, winning the collision and rumbling on again. Charlie’s footwork then, he has a good strong passing game and carrying game, but he can also boot the ball a mile as well,” added Cullen.

Needed that impact

“This is what you need in the modern game now, impact, carries are important, and how you are managing some of that contact because Sale were just filling the front line and that’s hard to play against.”

Leinster will meet Munster on December 26 and Ulster on January 1 in the Rugby Championship before returning to the Champions Cup against Stade Francais on 13 January.

READ MORE: Alex Sanderson says Sale can build on the positives from Champions Cup defeat to Leinster