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https:\/\/www.rugbypass.com\/news\/the-one-caveat-despite-leo-cullens-relief-at-leinster-getting-off-mark\/ <\/p>\nmens<\/p>\n
united-rugby-championship<\/p>\n
Ryan Baird of Leinster, centre, with teammates Alex Soroka, left, and Brian Deeny, during the United Rugby Championship match between Leinster and Hollywoodbets Sharks at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. (Photo By Seb Daly\/Sportsfile via Getty Images) https:\/\/www.rugbypass.com\/news\/the-one-caveat-despite-leo-cullens-relief-at-leinster-getting-off-mark\/ <\/p>\n
Leinster<\/a> finally got their United Rugby Championship<\/a> season up and running with a 31-5 win over the Sharks<\/a> at the Aviva Stadium, though head coach Leo Cullen was quick to remind everyone that the champions remain in the red on points difference.<\/p>\n After conceding ten tries in opening defeats to the Stormers<\/a> and Bulls, Leinster rediscovered their defensive edge in Dublin as they limited the South Africans to a single interception score.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was going to be a tough start for us,\u201d said Cullen. \u201cWhen you look at the season, the schedule right from the off, we\u2019re away in South Africa, you have a lot of moving parts in terms of guys returning. This week was going to be a short week and you\u2019re up against a team that\u2019s been in Europe for the last couple of weeks.<\/p>\n Witness guitar virtuoso Sophie Lloyd set the stage alight at the Rugby World Cup 2025 Finals with an electrifying medley of Bon Jovi\u2019s \u201cLivin\u2019 on a Prayer\u201d and the Black Eyed Peas\u2019 \u201cPump It\u201d. CATCH UP NOW<\/a><\/p>\n Witness guitar virtuoso Sophie Lloyd set the stage alight at the Rugby World Cup 2025 Finals with an electrifying medley of Bon Jovi\u2019s \u201cLivin\u2019 on a Prayer\u201d and the Black Eyed Peas\u2019 \u201cPump It\u201d. \u201cThe defence overall was impressive, particularly off the back of the last couple of weeks where we got cut up a bit cheaply at different parts of our game. You concede four tries one week and six the following week, so ten tries. The ledger is looking a little bit better. We\u2019re still on negative points difference for the first three games. As I said, we have plenty to work on.\u201d<\/p>\n Leinster crossed five times through Jamie Osborne<\/a>, Jimmy O\u2019Brien, Josh van der Flier, Max Deegan<\/a> and Gus McCarthy<\/a>, with Harry Byrne<\/a> adding three conversions in a display that mixed flashes of fluidity with moments of rust.<\/p>\n Fixture<\/p>\n United Rugby Championship<\/p>\n Leinster <\/p>\n Munster <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but there\u2019s lots of good parts to it, lots of good intent,\u201d Cullen said. \u201cWe scored some good tries and left a few out there, it\u2019s probably fair to say. It was a short week in terms of prep-wise and trying to build the team together. It\u2019s a step in the right direction and all those guys will hopefully be better for the experience today.\u201d<\/p>\n The return of several British and Irish Lions, including Tadhg Furlong<\/a>, James Lowe<\/a>, Ronan Kelleher<\/a>, Van der Flier and Osborne added substance to Leinster\u2019s effort, but Cullen warned that cohesion will take time.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019ve all come through, touch wood, in one piece,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019re through now and hopefully the wider group will be better for the experience, but we still have a long way to go.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Video](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1760269811_297_spacer-new.png\")
Sophie Lloyd\u2019s Medley Rocks Twickenham | WRWC 2025 Final | RPTV<\/p>\n
Filmed live at one of sport\u2019s biggest nights, this special showcase captures the spirit of rugby and rock in perfect harmony.<\/p>\nSophie Lloyd\u2019s Medley Rocks Twickenham | WRWC 2025 Final | RPTV<\/p>\n
Filmed live at one of sport\u2019s biggest nights, this special showcase captures the spirit of rugby and rock in perfect harmony.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/309.png.webp\"\/)
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