BBC Rugby Union News: Pressure Mounts on Leinster’s Cullen After URC Semi-Final Defeat
Premier Sports rugby pundits have questioned the position of Leinster head coach Leo Cullen following his team’s 20-25 loss to the Bulls in the United Rugby Championship (URC) semi-final on Saturday. The defeat in South Africa has left the Irish province without a trophy since 2021, a drought that retired internationals Tom Shanklin and Stephen Ferris believe is unacceptable given Leinster’s resources.
Leinster’s last league title came in 2021, capping a run of four successive victories. However, the team has struggled to maintain that dominance since the URC expanded to include the four main South African rugby franchises. They have now lost three consecutive semi-finals, including two at home to the Bulls and Munster, as well as the recent away defeat at the Bulls.
The addition of Jacques Nienaber, the Rugby World Cup-winning South African coach, to Leinster’s coaching staff earlier this season has not yet resulted in trophies. This has led the Premier Sports pundits to suggest that Cullen’s position is now under pressure.
“I 100 per cent do think so. I think probably Leo Cullen is under a lot of pressure now because of the resources they have got, the players they have got,” said Shanklin.
Ferris agreed, noting that Leinster has struggled to back up impressive performances with consistent results, unlike the top South African teams. He emphasized that for Leinster to progress, they need to start winning trophies again.
The pundits also highlighted Leinster’s squad management, with only one player from the starting lineup having played a game in South Africa this season. This, they suggest, may have contributed to the team’s struggles in the semi-final away fixture.
As Leinster looks to the future, the pressure will be on Cullen and his coaching team to regain the province’s dominance in the URC and secure the elusive trophy that has eluded them since 2021.
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