Leinster 'pretty sick' after Bulls defeat - Cullen

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen says his side feel "pretty sick" about the nature of their 27-26 defeat to the Bulls in the semi-final of the United Rugby Championship.

The better team won at the RDS, and Cullen wouldn't argue with it.

Their season ends without a trophy for the first time since 2017, and for some, like captain James Ryan, the first time in his career.

Losing a URC play-off game is an unfamiliar feeling for Leinster, and Cullen admits that it hurts,

"It is pretty sick in there," he said of the feeling in the Leinster changing room after their 27-26 defeat to the Bulls at the RDS.

It was a different type of defeat to the Champions Cup final, on that occasion they were clinging on to victory before it was snatched at the death, but tonight they spent much of the game on the back foot.

Having led early through a Dan Sheehan try, they were hit for two quick first half scores at the end of the first quarter, and were chasing the game from there

They had the chances though; a sustained period of pressure early in the second half, as well as two blown line-outs close to the Bulls line before the hour mark.

"We just weren't really accurate enough when we were chasing the game," he added.

"We had plenty of opportunities, created plenty of opportunities but, you know, when you come to semi-finals against top end teams, you need all your players sort of in an eight, nine, 10/10 in terms of how they play the game.

"Unfortunately for us some of us, some of ours were just not 100 per cent.

"That's what it comes down to, it's execution in the big moments in the big game.

"Across the board, we just weren't quite there today. We talked about the potential for that.

"Complacency is probably the wrong word, but it takes a little bit of