Leinster head coach Leo Cullen endured a real baptism of fire in his first season in charge of his former side as he watched his side crash out of the European Champions Cup ahead of the knock-out stages.
The former Leinster and Ireland lock was barely in the job before he lost the majority of his senior squad to the country’s World Cup build-up where more than 20 players were away on duty attempting to make Joe Schmidt’s final selections.
Amidst that disruption, Cullen’s maiden coaching season kicked in and while the senior players had returned from World Cup duty in time for the commencement of European rugby’s premium competition, the former Leinster captain has admitted that reintegrating the players back into the squad proved somewhat difficult.
“We had a difficult start as a group,” Cullen told RTÉ Sport. “We worked away with the bones of a squad minus 23 or 24 players that were away trying to fight for places at the World Cup and then they were gone to the World Cup so that was a difficult backdrop to the start of the season.
“We made some reasonable progress in the Pro 12 but then when you get everybody back post World Cup, it was hard to integrate everybody so that was one of the big challenges that we had.
"A lot of players arrived back and we had a week in Pro 12 and then we were straight into Europe and we lost our first two games, which makes life very difficult."
As mentioned, Leinster opened their European campaign with two straight defeats and were immediately playing catch-up, eventually missing out on a place in the knock-out stages, finishing last in Pool 5 behind Wasps, Toulon and Bath.
But Cullen believes that he learnt a lot from the past 12 months and is positive about the new season as the entire squad have enjoyed an inclusive pre-season.
“This year it’s been really positive having so many of the group together. We have a few injured guys but at least they are part of the planning process, so that’s made a huge difference for us already as a group.
“So having that buy-in from the collective of the players is something that we have really focused on, whereas last year, it was probably something that we really struggled with.
“The European campaign was a real disappointment last year but on the flip side of that, it allowed us to focus on the Pro 12 and we managed to finish top of the league, even though we didn’t really do ourselves fully justice in the final.
“So it’s probably been mixed feeling on last season but we’re a lot happier having the group together for pre-season so we can push forward together.
“I’ve been able to build and lay a foundation for us to build upon during the course of the season and that has been really, really positive.
“Some went away on tour and then others had a bit of a holiday but came in for some work focusing on speed and power, and skills development and then had another little break. Then all the group started together and that has been really positive.”
And Cullen has had the benefit of working with former All Blacks coach Graham Henry throughout the summer, as the former World Cup winning coach was brought over for a few weeks in a consulting role for the Donnybrook-based club.
“It was fantastic for me personally,” said Cullen. “Somebody in my development to be able to learn from somebody with that level of experience.
“For the coaches and the players, to have someone in our environment who was able to bring those fresh eyes and very experienced eyes to look at different ways to improve the way we play.
“We targeted very specific areas which we wanted him to focus on and we’re really pleased with some of the work that he put in and has set us on a course that we move ahead with for the rest of the season.”
Cullen believes that while learning about Henry’s success as a coach proves invaluable experience for a rookie coach, hearing about his tough times and how he coped with them proved just as educational.
“Everyone probably remembers him from winning the World Cup in 2011 but there has been lots of tough times that he has had during the course of his career.
“Ups and downs with Wales, the Lions and even with New Zealand in 2007, he’s been through it all so just to have that experience to be able to call upon has been really, really positive.”
Cullen also admitted that while he was happy with the squad at his disposal going into the new season, Leinster were always on the look-out for new talent to strengthen the squad.
But while he knows that there is a gap to fill now that Luke Fitzgerald has been forced to retire from the game, the coach will only bring players in who will improve the environment and is adamant that he will give academy players a chance to break through into his starting XV plans.
"Luke was a world class player and his absence does leave a hole but we place such emphasis on the academy system and bringing players through.
"We’re always looking (at strengthening) but it’s all about deciding what they will add to the environment. There is some flexibility there but it is important that we give Leinster guys who have come through the academy system a chance and it is important that we reward the effort that has been put in."
And with Leinster currently in the midst of their pre-season, with a game against Gloucester at Tallaght Stadium on Saturday, the coach said that this is the time of the year for those young players to put their hands up
"A lot of young academy players played [in last week's pre-season game against Ulster in Navan] and you’re always looking at this time of year to see what players will push through.
"It was only this time last year that Garry RIngrose had only just played in pre-season and he went on to play 20-plus games for the team, and it was the same with Ross Maloney and Peter Dooley.
"And we’re in Tallaght this week, which is a really good place to play so I’m looking forward to see who puts there hand up to feature in the early season games in the Pro 12."
Meanwhile, defence coach Kurt McQuilkin's departure home to New Zealand has been confirmed by the club and while Cullen has not confirmed a replacement, he did admit that he had been talking to a few people about the situation.
"Our main concerns are for Kurt and we fully support him. We always knew it was something potentially on the cards and we wish him well. The lads are very fond of Kurt. He works incredibly hard and testament to all the hard work that he put in, the defensive record the team had, particularly in the Pro 12.
"I’ve had a few conversations with a few different people so we will look to try to progress something over the next couple of weeks."
