Leo Cullen: 'Quality of people' will bring Leinster back

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen says he has no doubt that Leinster's day will come, as they fell to another agonising Heineken Champions Cup final defeat on Saturday.

For the third season in a row, the four-time champions came unstuck against Ronan O'Gara's La Rochelle, losing 27-26 in arguably the greatest final of the competition's 28-year history.

To amplify the Leinster heartbreak, they gave up a 17-0 lead having scored three tries in the first 11 minutes, and were still 23-7 in front approaching half time.

Having won four titles between 2009 and 2018, the province have now lost in each of their last three final appearances.

But Cullen says their belief will not waver, despite back-to-back trophyless seasons.

"Yes, absolutely," he said when asked if his confidence is as strong as ever.

"The quality of people, that's the biggest piece for me and there’s some bloody good young players coming through as well, and we need to do everything we can to support them. But I’d have a lot of confidence.

"Like, the experience guys get. Like Garry [Ringrose] beside me here, the experience makes you stronger, it’ll make you stronger over time. There’s other guys within the team as well, you know, young guys, still in their 20s that are just accumulating that experience all the time.

"I understand how hard it is, making sure you have that constant focus in terms of the habits we deliver day to day and when you get to this big stage that you’re able to nail those opportunities.

"But it’s hard. I’m not going to lie to you. It’s not like you just turn up and someone’s going to hand it to you. It’s going to be hard but that’s the challenge isn’t it, putting yourself in that situation again.

"But it’s not easy. It’s going to be a challenge but I