CULLEN READY TO BATTLE A REFRESHED ULSTER

Underfire boss expects physical encounter

- BY DEREK FOLEY

LEINSTER host a strong Ulster side at the Aviva tonight, well aware their form is under scrutiny bordering on microscopic.

That's despite having won five of their eight games this season, with two of their three losses in South Africa without their Lions contingent on the opening two weeks of the season.

Granted, there was a poor performance and URC defeat to Munster but subsequent wins against Harlequins and at Leicester have given the Blues a comfortable European cushion.

Coach Leo Cullen, nontheless, has had critics circling and, pleased at having won at Welford Road, he was caught off guard and bristled in the aftermatch when the result was labelled as poor by the club’s standards.

“I sort of came in afterwards with a positive outlook because we were 15-6 down,” shrugged the Leinster boss.

“It was a sticky first half but we had some opportunities, the Tommy O'Brien ‘score’ was a marginal call as to whether Robbie Henshaw was offside.

“I was three metres away when he started his run-up so was he nine metres away when the ball was thrown. I don't know. It was very tight, I thought.

“Then there was a no arms tackle when the ball squirted out and they hacked the ball out and Radwan scores that try.