They asked him twice but Leo Cullen was not biting.
Minutes after his side walloped Glasgow 55-19 to secure a home quarter final, the Leinster coach was asked if his side were the best in Europe. Cullen has been in the game too long for this.
“Yeah… ” he began, without a hint of conviction or boastfulness, before talking about how his team’s primary focus was beating Montpellier in France next weekend. He then spoke about how well Glasgow and Scarlets are doing in the league, touched on injuries and expanded on the upcoming Six Nations.
Taking a different tact, the press pack then asked Cullen what was clicking so well for his side this season. He pondered before replying:
“There’s no magic formula. Everyone is working hard. There’s a lot of disappointment with how we finished last season. Two semi finals, it had a sort of ‘almost’ feel about it.”
Cullen and fellow coach Stuart Lancaster both know that silverware is never handed out in January. Getting top seeding to go with a home quarter final does not guarantee an appearance in the final, this May, but it definitely helps. If nothing, Leinster’s coffers should be boosted by playing their last eight fixture at the Aviva Stadium but this side are aiming much, much higher.
Moments before Cullen, and Luke McGrath, faced the press, it was the turn of Glasgow head coach Dave Rennie. He was slightly more forthcoming and was in generous mood after his side’s caning. He commented:
“They’re impressive. They’re not going to be easy to beat. But there’s some quality teams at this stage of the competition; it gets pretty cut-throat. But they’ll be real hard to beat.”
Leinster have been hard to beat for the past decade but they have not looked as good as they do right now since the 2009-2012 glory days. They are rampant, ruthless and riveting to watch. They have that mix of brute force and flair and some crazy strength in depth.
Their academy is producing Test-ready talent after talent and, in Scott Fardy and James Lowe, they have made two of the best signings of the past 12 months.
Fardy has been a true gem of a signing. Having starred at the World Cup, in 2015, and with a wealth of Test and Super Rugby experience behind him, Leinster knew they were getting a decent player. What is pleasing, though, is to see how quickly Fardy has settled, how committed to the cause he is and how much of a leader he has already become.
In years to come, we could yet look back on the Aussie as one of those Elsom or Thorn-like signings – the established pro that comes in and drives already high standards into the stratosphere. He is well regarded by all at the club and makes Leinster an altogether cannier, tougher animal when he plays.
Lowe is still in his first few months at the province, having arrived later than Fardy but has us lapping up his every unscripted move.
His defence needs tightening, sure, but he is still learning the Leinster ropes and more than making up for it in attack.
Each and every appearance brings a rake of line breaks, defenders beaten, offloads and breathtaking moments. He delivered that against Glasgow and, hairband discarded, steamed over for his first European try.
To praise the newbies without a mention for Isa Nacewa, too, would be a crime. The man was quite brilliant again today.
Clermont and Scarlets, and a few others, may protest – so too might Leo – but Leinster are favourites to win this cup and for good, electric reasons.
