Leo Cullen relieved to see Leinster ‘up and running’ with returning frontliners

Such are the typically gradual return-to-play protocols of the season, with Ireland frontliners drip fed back (to Leinster especially), that only in the second weekend of October did it finally feel like Leo Cullen’s side were fully back in action.

That was exactly how Cullen put it after his side’s 29-5 win over Cardiff that was at times snazzy and other times clunky. Hardly surprising given nine of his starting XV were playing their first game in months.