It was quite a sight. Within five minutes of Jordie Barrett being introduced at the interval for a debut that was somehow both long-awaited and slightly premature, there they were about to join the fray in Leinster’s opening Champions Cup joust in Bristol: Ireland’s long-standing first-choice loosehead, a recently capped tighthead, a dual World Cup-winning lock and the current Leinster and Irish captain recently shortlisted for World Player of the Year.
Bomb Squads have become de rigueur, but it seemed not unreasonable to wonder if Leo Cullen, or any of his Leinster predecessors, had ever introduced such a bench. But while it might not have been an unreasonable thought, Cullen himself took exception when the question was posed to him.
“I don’t know how you measure that, it’s impossible. I couldn’t say,” responded Cullen, a tad irritated when asked that question. “I don’t know. You can’t really answer that question.”
And that would have been that but for a follow-up question asking if he felt privileged to introduce such replacements. Cullen was clearly irked, not for the first time, by the perception in the UK that Leinster can essentially purchase and play whomever they want.
Why can't Irish rugby produce players with genuine pace?
“The majority of the guys are home-grown, they come through the academy system. There’s a huge amount of time and effort gone in to make sure we get the best out of lads,” he said, after Leinster prevailed with just three non-Irish qualified players in their 23, as against 10 non-English qualified for Bristol.
“One of the most pleasing things out of the last month is that we had three guys go into Irish camp and they came back as internationals,” added Cullen, naming Sam Prendergast, Gus McCarthy and Thomas Clarkson.
“Gus McCarthy is a year two academy player in Leinster, is he experienced? He’s one of the guys coming off the bench and he’s an Irish international now. Thomas Clarkson is a 24-year-old tighthead who has come through the Leinster academy system. Is he hugely experienced? No. They’re the guys I’m thinking of.
“The only way we get experience into them is to keep picking them. Josh van der Flier was an academy player coming through into the senior squad and now he’s gone on to do everything he has in the game and achieved. The fact he wants to stay in the club is a great testament to everything that goes on in the club. I think it’s important that people acknowledge that.
“To go back to your question about the bench, there’s a mix,” Cullen added. “You’ve academy players, young players coming through and accumulating experience all the time. That’s what we want. We want Leinster people playing for Leinster because that’s important. That’s the fabric of the club, the identity of the club which is home-grown talent and lots of work going into developing those players so they can go on to be Irish internationals and beyond.”
One mustn’t forget that in Cullen’s first year as head coach, Leinster shipped two heavy defeats by Wasps, whose model has since caused their extinction.
Leinster’s financial model is so interwoven with the IRFU that it’s difficult to accurately estimate their annual playing budget but nowadays, granted, it’s probably close on €10 million as against the €7-8 million of the Premiership clubs.
Leinster do also have the significant advantage of being a capital city club, but with this season’s shift to the Aviva in mind, Snyman and Barrett were also shrewd additions. Watching Barrett score his first try in blue or Snyman make that huge gallop upfield in creating Prendergast’s second try, one can only imagine how many tickets that sold for next Saturday’s game against Clermont (kick-off 5.30pm).
“Hopefully we have a big crowd of supporters who want to come to watch that team, a team with identity, with hope. Whether we win or lose, that’s a little bit irrelevant, isn’t it?” said Cullen, which was perhaps stretching things a tad.
“But it’s making sure people buy into something maybe a bit different to other teams. Yeah, we’re able to bring in a few players from overseas but we’re so constrained in what we actually can bring in. So, we spend a hell of a lot of time trying to develop what we have in our own back yard.”
Also keen to stress the kick-off time, the availability of tickets and how the game would make for a good Christmas gathering, Cullen said: “The challenge of Clermont is completely different with their philosophy of how to play the game.
“They’re very physical, very confrontational, they’ll kick the ball a lot - versus Bristol who will run the ball from everywhere. Clermont will be direct, confrontational; you’ve all reported on Christophe Urios teams.”
As critical a phase at Ashton Gate as the three-try salvo in seven second-half minutes was Leinster’s response after being consigned to 13 players for seven minutes and falling 7-0 down to draw level at the break.
Van der Flier, continuing his form from the Autumn Nations Series, seemingly sought to make up the numerical difference single-handedly, although the flanker admitted he also drew fresh energy from the impactful bench.
“There’s quality on the pitch but to bring on fresh legs like that ... they’re some pretty special players, all capable of having big moments,” said Van der Flier.
“It gave a huge amount of energy. It felt good out there. It rejuvenates you, when you’ve got fresh lads talking. I thought it was brilliant.”
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