Leinster's disruptive factors have been rectified, asserts Leo Cullen: team now completely focused
Lockdown's Over, But Not for Leinster's Lions Eight Week Crew
It's quittin' time for many, but not for this bunch of 12 Leinster lads. As the season winds down with the semi-final on the horizon, their long vacation is still a month away.
Leo Cullen's juggling act is far from over. His current lineup for the BKT URC semi-final against Glasgow consists of eight - Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Joe McCarthy, James Ryan, Jack Conan, Jamison Gibson-Park, James Lowe, and Rónan Kelleher. Staying in the injury penalty box are Josh van der Flier (hammy), Tadhg Furlong (calf), Hugo Keenan (calf), and Garry Ringrose (you guessed it, calf).
A month ago, Andy Farrell called up the Lions squad, and it's hard to suppress the excitement that comes with the prospect of putting on that iconic jersey. Ten of the twelve are first-timers, with Pouter and Kelleher making a return after being part of the 2021 contingent, albeit without playing a minute.
We're in that uncomfortable zone now, draped between the heartbreak of the Champions Cup semi-final and the glamour of the Australia tour - and for some, Ireland's summer Tests against Georgia and Portugal.
Past the Zebre debacle, the team's performances, particularly in wins over Glasgow and Scarlets, have been criticized. Passes are careless, accuracy is a dream, discipline is weak, and the once-unbreakable defense isn't as solid as it used to be. Cullen ain't happy about the sloppy play, stating that it shouldn't be a "drudge."
He addressed the Lion-related distractions and moved on, assuring us that all players are in the zone. Tackling the question of whether he thought that was necessary, he mused that there are a slew of distractions quite apart from the Lions selection, with the Irish squad selection happening mid-week and the weather gods having a pop too.
With fan excitement at an all-time high, Cullen is hoping the team can nail down the lessons from their scrappy 33-21 win over Scarlets, and more importantly, the 37-34 loss to Northampton. Conditions will play a role, as a wet day is predicted for Dublin.
As the team gears up for what could be their last game at the Aviva Stadium, they'll be gunning for a spot in the final – to keep the season alive for another week.
Fan the Flames! Hop on the bandwagon, get pumped for some knockout rugby - this could be Leinster's first trophy since 2021! Tune in to the RTE Rugby podcast, catch the game on RTE2 and RTE Player, or follow a live blog on our website/sport and the RTE News app. Listen to live commentary on RTE Radio 1.
The Leinster Lions, despite having a month off approaching, are focusing on their European performances, with key players like Jamison Gibson-Park, James Lowe, and Rónan Kelleher gearing up for the BKT URC semi-final against Glasgow. Meanwhile, another challenge awaits a number of the squad, as they're on the cusp of donning the iconic Lions jersey in upcoming European-leagues football.
