James Ryan and Leo Cullen insist ‘gutted’ Leinster will ‘build and go again’ in pursuit of silverware
James Ryan of Leinster is tackled by David Kriel and Cameron Hanekom of Vodacom Bulls during the United Rugby Championship semi-final at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, South Africa. Photo by Shaun Roy/Sportsfile
Leinster captain James Ryan said they are gutted to end another season without a trophy after they were dumped out of the URC by a rampant Bulls side.
Leinster were just not able to match the intensity of the Bulls side at altitude and now face a summer of recrimination after a third season in a row without a trophy.
“It was exactly like we expected,” said Ryan. “It was a tough game, it was Test match intensity. We are gutted. Full credit to the Bulls, I thought they were great.
“It’s all about small margins and this team probably knows that better than most.”
Josh van der Flier agreed that it was there for Leinster to win but they just didn’t make the most of the opportunity.
There wasn’t much in it. It could have gone either way right up to the end,” he said. “It was very disappointing. We played a very good Bulls side but it’s always very fine margins.
“Credit to the Bulls they played very well. Johan (Goosen) kicked very, very well so credit to him.”
Leo Cullen said they will take this latest blow and come back again.
“I think the group showed a lot of resolve to come back from where they had been over the last couple of years so it's disappointing to be left with the same outcome isn’t it, which is a one-score loss in a URC semi-final. It doesn’t get any closer than that,” said Cullen.
“We will build and we’ll go again. For us as a group, we just need to learn and I think when they get across the line, they will be able to kick on from there. We just need to work hard at trying to get across the line in the first place.”
