Leinster attitude pleases Cullen after win v Munster

Leo Cullen had plenty to smile about after Leinster's 34-19 bonus point win away to Munster, as they moved 10 points clear at the top of the United Rugby Championship.

But the head coach said the attitude shown by his players was the most pleasing, as they put together arguably their most fluid performance of the season at Thomond Park.

Cullen was afforded the luxury of bringing eight of Ireland's Six Nations contingent into his starting team, and a further three off the bench for the trip to Limerick.

And he says the returning internationals hit the ground running.

"The big thing is the attitude of the guys coming back in here.

"The lads who were here [during the Six Nations window] played seven games in nine weeks and I thought they worked really well and were improving week on week; so it was great having all those international boys come back in.

"That creates competition. They gelled well together but that is on the back of working hard during the week."

The defending champions settled the game in the third quarter, with tries for James Lowe and Jimmy O'Brien giving them a 17-point cushion, and while Munster did rally to cut the lead to 10, a further Lowe try in the final 10 minutes secured the bonus point.

It leaves them 10 points clear at the top of the table, with three regular season URC games to go, while they're also among the favourites for the Heineken Champions Cup which resumed next week.

And Cullen says their desire to compete on both fronts is what's keeping them sharp as they enter the business end of the season.

"They maybe look back on days when we have come unstuck – La Rochelle last season as an example – it is trying to get ourselves ready when we get into that type of scenario against that type of team, so