CONTROL KEY FOR CULLEN

Leinster boss Leo admits there's work to be done

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LEO CULLEN accepted there was a fine line between being in control of the URC quarter-final against Scarlets and keeping control.

If it’s a primary task to keep hold of winning positions Leinster shouldn't be giving away stress-inducing silly points that serve to heighten pressure on players.

All of which play into fears stoked by respected sports psychologist Enda McNulty, a fortnight back, who said this current Leinster collective were not managing stress efficiently.

Cutting to the Scarlets chase, Leinster should only have to win the match once, put the points down and retain control.

Thus 12 points up after 10 minutes — tries from James Lowe, Jamison Gibson-Park and a Sam Prendergast conversion — was a worthy start and just the job against a team that were 20/1 to win the game at kick-off and suggesting the hard work had been done.

Surely a team with 14 current Ireland internationals, an All Black superstar and a bench where seven of the eight players were either current or former internationals knew how to keep hold on the reins.