‘Keep the abuse coming, we don't mind' – Leo Cullen's pointed message to Leinster critics after URC triumph

The Irish Sun

7 hours ago

LEO CULLEN insists the haters can keep abusing Leinster because it is water off a duck's back.
But Jack Conan and Dan Sheehan admitted that breaking their trophy duck is a big deal.
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Leo Cullen's side ended a four-year trophy drought at Croke Park
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It was the first trophy Dan Sheehan has won with the province
The Blues were crowned URC champions on Saturday night by
It was
And the pressure was on this season following the shock Euro last-four defeat by Northampton.
That put the focus on Cullen's side that boasts the bulk of the Ireland team as well as two of the world's best imports in All Black
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Bulls coach Jake White insisted his pre-match comment about effectively facing Ireland — eight of the starting XV on Saturday were also Lions — was not a criticism.
Captain Conan said: 'They came out with a lot of stuff in the media during the week about it's Ireland versus the Bulls.
'So we said, 'Right, let's not disappoint them, let's be at our best, let's give Irish rugby' and I thought we did that.
'I don't know if I had too many collisions out there, but I was absolutely loving seeing the lads whack people and forcing them back.'
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Leinster set the tone by scoring three unanswered tries in the first half and producing a brilliant 18-phase stop to deny Bulls a try before the break.
The display will also have silenced the critics who questioned whether Leinster, who have an embarrassment of playing riches, lacked the character to win.
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Cullen, 47, has been head coach for a decade and led the Blues to Champions Cup glory and four URC titles before their recent struggles.
And he never had any doubt that they were on the brink of success.
The former lock said: 'We've lost in different ways, at the death, after extra-time, you've just got to keep putting ourselves in that position and keep pushing the boundaries of what we do.
'You get criticism when you lose, it still doesn't take away what we actually . . . personally speaking, what I love doing.
'Pressure is great, it's part and parcel of sport. It's a great way to feel alive, we're lucky to be involved. Keep the abuse coming, we don't mind — thick skins.'
RELIEF AMONG PLAYERS
But Conan, 32, acknowledged that lifting silverware again with Leinster was important for the present and future.
He said: 'We spoke a lot in the last few weeks . . . so many lads here have never won anything for Leinster.
'They've won a load of stuff for Ireland, they've won Grand Slams, Triple Crowns and things, but have never won anything for Leinster.'
Dan Sheehan is one of those as the 2021 season was his rookie year when he was largely a bit-part player.
The hooker, 26, said: 'This is the first one that I feel properly a part of.
It was definitely on my mind over the last couple of years.
'You work so hard during the season and you're spending the majority of your time with this group of players. It gives us a boost, I think it gets the monkey off the back and it is incredibly rewarding.'