Leinster head coach Leo Cullen hailed his side’s performance as they dispatched Racing 92 42-10 to kickstart their Champions Cup campaign.
Cullen’s side ran in six tries in their demolition of Racing 92 at a chilly Le Havre in France.
2022 World Player of the Year Josh van der Flier scored two of the six tries, with further scores from fellow forwards Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Garry Ringrose and Ed Byrne.
Cullen shrugs off travel delays
Travel delays meant it took the Leinster squad 14 hours to get from Dublin to Le Havre via Paris, but that had little impact on the Irish side’s performance.
“Some things are out of your control. We got here later than we intended, but it was just one of those tests which are good to get through sometimes. It was great connecting time at the airport for players, parents and supporters,” Cullen said when queried about the delays.
Leinster hit the ground running
After tasting defeat in the final of last season’s tournament, Leinster were eager to make a statement, and Stuart Lancaster demanded the side start well.
They did just that with Porter scoring inside the first five minutes of the match.
“The lads started with great intent, and it was important to score early,” Cullen explained.
“I had watched Racing in their recent matches, and they had scored a lot of early points. They had blitzed Clermont, and it was important to take that away from them.”
Final say of the half was key
Cullen highlighted his side’s third try as the moment that the game shifted, saying: “To score just before half-time for a 21-3 lead was a big momentum shift.
“We went out there with a desire to go out and start the Champions Cup well because there’s not much margin for error with the new tournament format.
“In the old format, you got a losing bonus point away and it was big. Now you go to really maximise every point. You need to get every point you can so it was a great start for us.”
Racing 92 now face a tough trip to London to take on Harlequins in round two of the competition, while Leinster will host Gloucester at the RDS Arena.
Cullen was pleased by the opening round victory but said that part one of the job is done with Gloucester posing a different challenge.
“It’s part one done. Our minds are fixed on Gloucester, who have a really good set-piece and who will bring a lot of other strengths,” he said.
“From our players’ point of view, they are proud about the team; they just want to represent themselves; it’s what they are.”
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