Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has warned his side not to get carried away ahead of their Investec Champions Cup semi-final against Toulon on 2 May.
The Irish giants booked a fifth successive semi-final appearance with a commanding 43-13 win over the Sale Sharks in Dublin on Saturday, but Cullen remained cautious.
“We were here for the semi-final last year and we didn’t manage to get the job done,” he said, referencing their defeat to the Northampton Saints.
In the past five seasons, Leinster have lost three Champions Cup finals and exited at the semi-final stage twice as they chase an elusive fifth star.
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Cullen, who works alongside senior coach Jacques Nienaber, said Toulon would pose a formidable obstacle.
Despite the French club languishing in 11th on the Top 14 log, Cullen is under no illusions about the threat posed by Pierre Mignoni’s side.
“They’ve an all-star squad, haven’t they? They’ve plenty of firepower there,” he said. “It’s another great challenge for us as a group.
“It’s great to again be in the semi-final, but we know how bloody tough it is.”
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Toulon will arrive in Dublin on the back of impressive wins over the Stormers and Glasgow Warriors, underlining their knockout pedigree.
“Glasgow were probably the form team in Europe and they managed to get the job done up there,” Cullen said of Toulon’s 22-19 win at Scotstoun Stadium.
“They’re a team that has caused plenty of pain, towards the tail end of my playing career and into my early coaching career.”
Photo: Billy Stickland/INPHO
The post Leinster haunted by Champions Cup heartache appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has warned his side not to get carried away ahead of their Investec Champions Cup semi-final against Toulon on 2 May.
The post Leinster haunted by Champions Cup heartache appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
