‘You’d love it if all of Ireland got behind you’ – Leo Cullen feels up against La Rochelle and the Cork ‘mafia’
Head coach Leo Cullen knows Leinster will have to be strong against their modern-day rivals. Photo: Harry Murphy/Sportsfile
Leinster coach Leo Cullen knows he’ll be up against the “Cork bandwagon” that are supporting Ronan O’Gara and La Rochelle for this evening’s (5.30) eagerly-anticipated Champions Cup quarter-final at the Aviva Stadium.
After travelling back from Cape Town following their win over the Stormers last weekend, O’Gara took his team to his home city for a three-day camp and trained at his old club Cork Constitution when the pitch at the Fota Island campus, where they were staying, was deemed unplayable.
Former Ireland international Donal Lenihan organised the use of the facilities for O’Gara, while a number of Cork Con legends were on hand to welcome him and his team to Temple Hill.
That appears to have irked Cullen ahead of the fifth meeting between the sides in four seasons.
“There seems to be a bit of a Cork bandwagon,” he said when asked about the Leinster v La Rochelle rivalry yesterday. “The mafia have jumped on to the bandwagon along with La Rochelle.
“Yeah, it’s great, isn’t it? That’s what sport needs and I’m glad that we’re a part of it.
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“We have this rivalry because we’ve played in two finals. In previous years we weren’t even at the table . . . that’s the beauty of the tournament. It’s what makes it so special, some of the rivalries that are there. New teams come forward all the time.
“For us, we’re the only Irish team left in the competition and you’d love if all of Ireland got behind you.
“But that’s not the way it works, as we know. But we’re the last man standing of the Irish provinces. The Bulls and ourselves are the last two teams from the URC in the competition. So, we’re representing the competition that we play in.”
Cullen, who has made two changes to the team that beat Leicester Tigers by bringing Jason Jenkins and Will Connors into the pack, didn’t stop there when he was later asked about Munster’s Peter O’Mahony’s decision to sign a new one-year contract.
“It feels weird talking about Peter O’Mahony here today,” he said. “Ronan will be in here after, they were being hosted down in Cork Con this week, Donal Lenihan organised a few things for them this week so maybe ask the lads.”
La Rochelle are without full-back Brice Dulin who misses out with injury, as Teddy Thomas comes on to the wing and Dillyn Leyds starts at No 15.
