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Leinster head coach Leo Cullen offered a withering assessment of what he perceived as Munster’s one-dimensional tactics as his team beat bitter rivals in the Pro14 semi-final for the third year in a row.
Ullen’s team pulled off a valiant 13-3 victory, and while he acknowledged that the game itself was not pretty to look at, he was less than impressed with the way Munster went about his business.
Over and over again, Munster glanced at Conor Murray, who kicked the area in an attempt to disrupt Leinster’s back-three, but the champions had done their homework and dealt comfortably with the aerial threat.
“It was brutal, safe for purists,” Cullen said.
“You have to be very precise against a team that all they want is to kick and apply that pressure game.
“So it’s complicated and there are interpretations around the ruck – that probably favors the defensive team more.
“It is a complicated balance. It wasn’t a great show, but for us it’s about winning a semi-final and passing.
“This is our third game of the season. For some of the guys there, it’s their second game of the season. We move on to the next round.
“It was quite an ugly thing, an ugly contest, but we are done.
“Munster probably missed a couple of chances they’ll say in the game, but it is what it is. We are done and we are in the next challenge. We will watch with great interest how Edinburgh and Ulster go.
“It was always going to be a dogfight after the skies opened before the game.
“It was greasy conditions and everything else, but it was really about passing. It wasn’t the prettiest.”
Caelan Doris was outstanding when she took a turn at the helm in the second half, helping Leinster cross the line.
With Andy Farrell watching at Aviva, Ireland’s head coach will have been very impressed by what he saw in the 22-year-old behind.
“Caelen was really good, dynamic in handling and really hungry for work, so it was really nice for him,” added Cullen.
“He is still a young player who is getting ahead. He has had a good preseason.
“He’s worked hard during that period and he’s come back with the bite between his teeth and it was a good performance from him, I thought against a good quality defender for Munster with players like Peter O’Mahony and CJ Stander there. so it was good to see Caelan so well. “
Online editors
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