Leinster coach on Final debate and second-string squad
SPOTLIGHT: Leinster head coach Leo Cullen wants the top teams to be rewarded when it comes to the right to host the Final of the United Rugby Championship.
There have been rumours that URC officials are considering staging the Final in South Africa in a bid to enhance the profile of the tournament.
Some would consider that an unfair decision for the team that ends the round-robin phase on top of the standings.
With just three rounds remaining ahead of the play-offs, Leinster is clear favourites to finish on top – as they currently have a 10-point lead over nearest rivals Ulster and Glasgow Warriors.
Ahead of his team’s clash with the Sharks in Durban this weekend, Cullen made it clear he was not a fan of the idea.
“That’s the thing I am struggling to get my head around,” Cullen said.
” I think it is going to be a challenge in the short term,” the Leinster coach added.
“It’s a very fine line.
“I think the top teams have to be rewarded at the moment. That’s my personal opinion.
“The travelling is going to be the big challenge [for supporters].
“It [the tournament] has to incentivise teams to get the higher seedings.
“With three games to go, we want to try and keep our No.1 seeding for obvious reasons.
“It’s about trying to keep your home advantage because I think the team that does finish on top deserves that.”
He added: “Would it sell tickets if the Final was in the Northern Hemisphere and it’s two South African teams or vice versa and it’s a Final in South Africa and you have two Northern Hemisphere teams.
“It certainly would be a challenge to get a crowd.”
#ICYMI: Former Springbok captain and centre Jean de Villiers says the midfield is clearly a problem area for the Sharks in the #URC https://t.co/gmC22RqAMU
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* Meanwhile, Cullen also explained his decision to send a second-string squad to South Africa for upcoming matches against the Sharks and Stormers.
There has been a growing feeling in the last few days that the selection is a bad look for a tournament still finding its feet.
“Most of the guys that are here probably played a lot more minutes than some of the guys that were left at home in this tournament and that is just the nature of what we are involved in,” said Cullen.
“We want as many guys as possible to go on and represent Ireland. It means you play certain sections of the season without some of those international players.
“A huge amount of good work has gone in to get the group to the point where we are, and a lot of guys have been pushing for selection from a European [Champions Cup] point of view.
“During that Six Nations period we had seven games in those nine weeks when the international players weren’t available, so it’s continuing in that trend really. And to be fair to the guys they did a huge amount of work to get where we are.
“It’s an amazing opportunity for some of our younger players to come across here as well. It would be fantastic in terms of development.
“With the amount of moving parts in terms of the international games and the way Europe is now, it’s a very different format. Even just in terms of the play-off structure.
“In the last 16 of Champions Cup, we haven’t had that home and way format in the past.
“It then goes into the quarterfinal, semifinal and Final when we get back from South Africa. Plus, there is an extra knockout game in the URC as well.
“We are keen to manage the group so everyone can fire to the best of their ability on any given day.”
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#NEWS: Good news for the Irish giants ahead of that clash in Durban #URC #SHAvLEI https://t.co/ldBZJJok9I
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