Leo Cullen has countered suggestions by former Leinster captains Brian O’Driscoll and Isa Nacewa that the style of Leinster coaching has unduly influenced the way Ireland played rugby. Nacewa has been critical of Ireland for moving away from Leinster’s more open way of playing to a conservative approach. But Cullen maintains that Leinster’s influence and that of the Leinster coaches is overstated and just one influence among many. You could easily say at the World Cup, there were 14 Leinster players out there originally. Did that have an affect?”For Ireland’s final match against New Zealand, Leinster players made up just over half the starting team.

Source: The Irish Times October 29, 2019 00:56 UTC