Ahead of the Champions Cup final against Bordeaux in Bilbao, Leo Cullen is taking the heat for Leinster’s recent European frustrations. The criticism is being treated as too simplistic—because the work behind Leinster’s long success and Ireland’s steady stream
There’s a particular kind of hostility that follows a coach who keeps trying to do the job quietly—until the biggest night of the season arrives and the noise turns into something more personal.
On the road to the Champions Cup final showdown with Bordeaux in Bilbao. Leo Cullen has been pushed into the firing line. hunted by a narrative that he doesn’t deserve the credit he’s earned. It isn’t even a long wait; the accusations are coming in fast. whether it’s hunter hats and rifle barrels in the metaphorical sense outside Leinster’s headquarters. or a far more direct pressure from supporters and critics.
Leinster supporters have been on his case for “underachieving” since the province last lifted the trophy in 2018. And the rugby media’s digs only sharpened after Cullen delivered an uncharacteristic pop at them following the nervy 29-25 semi-final victory over Toulon.
The irritation didn’t appear from nowhere. After the Toulon match, Cullen was frustrated enough to take a swipe at the media. But even as the criticism of Leinster’s inconsistency and stilted play over a somewhat disjointed season is impossible to refute. the deeper resentment has looked—again and again—off beam. The loudest refrain is the claim that Leinster have an unfair advantage.
It’s true Leinster benefit from their positioning in Dublin. with a large population and corporate sector to tap into for support. But being based in a big city doesn’t automatically translate into success; Wasps—dating back to the 1860s—ended up in Coventry before going under a few years back. The city advantage argument doesn’t hold up when you follow where the stability does—or doesn’t—end.
The other repeated target is Leinster’s schools pathway. Yet the schools rugby system that sustains the Leinster squad has been in place for well over 100 years. Leinster Rugby has simply prioritised the pathways to ensure a regular flow into the academy. It may have left parts of the Leinster club scene on the margins. but it isn’t unjust or underhand—just smart.
Then there are the catcalls about internationals and Irish Lions in the Leinster squad. as if the province is being punished for bringing that level of talent through its books. The history here matters. Cullen’s predecessor as Leinster supremo was Australian Matt O’Connor. and O’Connor’s choices had a direct effect on Ireland’s prospects at the 2015 World Cup.
When Johnny Sexton left for Racing 92 in 2013, O’Connor handed the No10 reins to a Kiwi called Jimmy Gopperth. Joe Schmidt had been nurturing Ian Madigan for the previous two seasons. so successfully that the understudy out-half was one of the standout players of the 2012-13 campaign. winning the Magners League golden boot and named in their ‘dream team.’ O’Connor favoured Gopperth. which sabotaged Madigan’s and Ireland’s progress. When Sexton was unavailable at the 2015 World Cup, Madigan’s readiness was not as pronounced as it should have been.
O’Connor also indulged other imports such as Quinn Roux, Kane Douglas and Zane Kirchner, none of whom ever really hit the mark and directly impinged on Ireland plans.
Since Cullen took over, the focus has overwhelmingly shifted to homegrown pathways. It is not unusual for match-day squads to have 23 Irish players. Carefully selected overseas talent is used as needed. That approach has powered the most sustained. successful period in history for Ireland’s national team. and yet Cullen’s role in building the pipeline is often treated as background noise.
The “galacticos” argument is also thrown at Leinster in a way that doesn’t match what’s actually happening. If you’re talking about the heavyweights of the Top14 buying in the best players on the market and using their financial heft to land trophies. that isn’t the same thing as what Leinster have spent years doing. Leinster’s model is self-sustaining. financially prudent: bringing players through the academy and earning national contracts costs far less than going to the market with a chequebook open. Overseas signings are kept to a minimum and carefully selected. rather than an “Avengers assemble” approach associated with some big French clubs and Saracens and Toulon back in the day.
The business model is working. The RDS redevelopment is even due to raise the bar again. And while Leinster’s rivals have gone through their own periods of chaos—Munster’s operation “disappearing down the drain. ” with Ulster and Connacht only now starting to revitalise—Cullen and the province as a whole are still being resented for getting their house in order.
That resentment may be shaping the mood around today, but the stakes are clearer when the numbers come into focus. Many neutrals, in Ireland and beyond, are rooting for Bordeaux today. But on the facts, Bordeaux are the true heavyweight.
Financial experts put Leinster’s self-generated revenue at around €20million. Bordeaux’s equivalent—known as ‘les produits l’exploitation’—is estimated at €37million. Unlike Leinster’s, the Bordeaux squad is littered with imported talent, from the southern hemisphere and other parts of France. There is. as a result. pressure on Cullen and his team—not because Leinster are unfairly advantaged. but because they’re being asked to meet the moment without the same financial crutch.
And that leads to the most uncomfortable detail for the critics: Cullen’s official title is head coach. but his role is described as an overseer’s one. His job is to put the pieces in place to propel Leinster towards success. The responsibility for getting them over the finish line sits with the senior coach. For the record, first it was Stuart Lancaster. For the past few seasons, it has been Jacques Nienaber making the onfield calls.
Nienaber has responsibity for on-field direction, and he is a two-time World Cup winning coach. Yet when Leinster suffer a bad defeat. the outside shooting gallery tends to aim its fire at Cullen. not the man holding the match-day levers. When Nienaber’s patented blitz defence delivers. Nienaber is showered with praise with little of it travelling up the command chain.
One black mark has been carried by Leinster at European level, and it’s been placed on multiple shoulders. The failure to start Jordie Barrett against Northampton last year is listed as a black mark against everyone involved. Still. Leinster should have won that European semi-final. and the failure to do so rests with Nienaber—yet it was Cullen who got the major kicking.
So while Bordeaux should win today on the available evidence and they are described as justifiably favourites, that won’t spare Cullen if Leinster do lose.
Even so, the case for Cullen stretches far beyond the argument of one game. Over the 11 years since he has been at the helm. Cullen has presided over one European Champions Cup win. four other final appearances and five URC titles. He has also collected two URC coach of the year awards. Along the way. he has overseen a stream of quality internationals into the Ireland team during a period of unprecedented success. As a player, he also captained Leinster to three European Cups.
When you strip it down to the essentials, the conflict is simple: the work that built the machine is being dismissed, while the machine’s moments of failure are being pinned as personal guilt.
There is also an argument that Cullen has been in the role for too long, leading to staleness and a desire for a fresh voice. But if the Champions Cup has been agonisingly elusive since 2018, Cullen has kept Leinster at the top of the tree all the while—and that is worthy of respect.
In the end, none of the arguments will matter to the boo-boys and girls if Leinster lose today. But that still doesn’t make the judgment right. Cullen does not get the credit he deserves.
He has a year left to run on his deal with Leinster, and win or lose today, he has more than earned the right to see it out.
Leo Cullen Leinster Bordeaux Champions Cup final Bilbao Jacques Nienaber Stuart Lancaster Ireland rugby Matt O'Connor Jimmy Gopperth Ian Madigan Johnny Sexton Jordie Barrett