‘They are stacked with internationals as well’ – Leinster and Leo Cullen relishing Bulls challenge

At the time of writing, over 17,000 tickets have been sold for the eagerly-anticipated showdown at the 18,500 capacity RDS, where a host of Irish and South African stars are set to be on show.

Speaking after naming a strong team to take on the Bulls, Cullen is excited to welcome back his front-liners from Six Nations duty.

“It’s always trying to get the balance, isn’t it,” Cullen said.

“You have to respect what’s gone on in the last couple of months.

“If you think there is the Six Nations, which is probably the main event, and there’s the guys that have started and played a good chunk of those games.

“There’s what’s gone on before that in terms of guys having played a good bit of rugby before that as well, some guys hadn’t played that much leading into the Six Nations, so everyone is coming at it from a slightly different situation.

“We are looking at some different combinations. It’s a proper game for us, first against second in the league.

“Last week was a good opportunity for the guys that have been involved in the Six Nations to have a break and a bit of a blowout just to release that pressure that’s there over the previous couple of months.

“On the flip side of that, we have had a young group mixed with some experienced guys that have managed to play three games during the Six Nations window and pick up 15 points, so they couldn’t have done any more, which was fantastic.

“We played a couple of friendly games as well, which again is good for building the depth and layering the understanding for us as coaches and working with the players.

“So that has been really positive even though we lost both games, but it was a very strong Saracens team that pumped Harlequins at the weekend, pretty similar with Bath, who won comfortably against Sale at the weekend. That’s what we were up against in those games.

“It was a good block but it has been really nice to get everyone back together. You’re just getting a bit of a gauge as to where guys are at, managing a couple of little niggles and bumps and bumps. Usual stuff that you would expect at this stage of the season.

“I think the guys have applied themselves well, but it is with caution. It has been a short week prep-wise because you can only do so much.

“If you think we came back from Italy on the Sunday, get home at four o’clock, say hello to the family for a couple of hours, go to bed, get back up, new group Monday and Tuesday and here we are again.”

Today's Sport News in 90 Seconds - March 28th

Cullen is expecting a tough challenge from the Bulls, who will be aiming to repeat their semi-final win at the same venue two years ago.

“It’s a great challenge to focus the minds because the Bulls are stacked with internationals now as well,” Cullen added

“From what I can see that’s pretty much as good a lineup as they have picked all season.

“And Jake White, as we know, is a very astute coach, so he will have plenty of tricks up his sleeve no doubt.”

Cullen’s counterpart White echoed the Leinster boss’ sentiments as he too is anticipating a cracking contest at the RDS.

“I am told that this will be played out in front of a sold-out crowd which sends a good message to our team. It means that we are doing something right, it means that people want to see the Vodacom Bulls play and it means that we are able to draw crowds to games,” White said.

“It will be a big game. It is a one playing two and I am positively confident that all their big guns will be out as well.

“They are an incredible team, one of the best clubs in the world and this group of players have played in many big games, test matches included. So I am not for one minute underestimating the magnitude of this one-versus-two clash in front of a sold-out audience.

“This is a great opportunity for us to measure ourselves against one of the strongest, in-form teams over the past couple of years. This will give me and the coaches a good chance to see where we have grown over the last couple of seasons.”

“We must at least give ourselves a chance, we don’t want to come here and not fire a shot. This is a great opportunity for us to give it a go,” he added.

“We also are going to have to match them, they are a really good team. We will have to match them in areas where they are really good and we are going to have to stop them from doing what they want to do as well.

“The one thing we have seen is that when they get going and get the game flowing with the rhythm they want to play, they are as good if not better than any team we have ever played against.

“It will not be like a heavyweight boxing fight where you go toe-to-toe but I think it is a reality of being smart and it will be a case of taking your opportunities. An opportunity not just on the field but to also measure yourself against one of the best teams there has been over the past couple of years.”