Leo Cullen calls for Leinster to be more ruthless after surviving Ulster fightback

Leo Cullen said Leinster must show a more ruthless streak when closing out games after they survived a second-half fightback from Ulster on Friday night.

Leinster led 20-3 after 46 minutes at a sodden Kingspan Stadium thanks to tries from Ryan Baird and Dan Sheehan and 10 points from the boot of Ross Byrne.

However, they didn't trouble the scoreboard again as Ulster fought back to make it a one-score game.

But for a superb last-ditch tackle by Charlie Ngatai on Aaron Sexton, which caused the Ulster wing to lose possession as he dived over the tryline, it would have been an even closer finish as Leinster held on to extend their 100% start in the BKT United Rugby Championship.

Leo Cullen reflects on a hard-fought win over Ulster pic.twitter.com/8aOdR8WdX0

"The game could have been put to bed 10 minutes into the second half," said Leinster head coach Cullen.

"There was lots of excellent stuff in the first half, set-piece, how we managed the game. We were really smart in terms of the way we attacked the game.

"Start of the second half, we’re 20-3 up and have a lineout five metres out - crooked throw, scrum, give away a penalty, Ulster relieve the pressure. They got the roll on a couple of times with their maul, we know it’s a strong part of their game.

"How we deal with high balls, we just gave Ulster access points back into the game. Then the crowd are into it, a bit more pressure on the referee, more decisions are going their way, then you’re under the pump.

"But to be fair to the lads they scrambled well. It was an unbelievable try-saving tackle by Charlie Ngatai in the corner, which just knocks a bit of the momentum."

Cullen handed three of his Ireland internationals their first appearances of the season. Jack Conan started at No