It's been business as usual for Leinster in the opening six games of the BKT United Rugby Championship.
Six games, six wins, and five of those with bonus-points, the province have already opened up a six-point lead at the top of the table.
Leo Cullen’s side were given their toughest test so far against the Lions at Aviva Stadium this evening, as Ivan van Rooyen’s side continued their own bright start to the campaign with a stubborn performance on defence.
"If you wind the clock back six weeks and told us we’ll get 29 points [from the first six games], we’d have been delighted," Cullen said, after their 24-6 win against the Lions.
The Leinster head coach did hint at some mild frustration at missing out on another bonus-point, which would have given them maximum points through the opening third of the season.
However, with such heavy rotation in his squad across the opening block, Cullen has learned a lot about his squad through these opening six weeks.
"With 20 minutes to go, you’d love to push on and get the bonus, but we’ve used a good few players, like 47 players, that’s a big chunk of players, a lot of young guys, some great experience over the past six weeks – hooker being the classic example.
"Four senior hookers out, Gus [McCarthy] started a good few games for us, Stephen Smyth coming off the bench today – I know it’s only for a couple of minutes but last week as well. It’s just getting them used to the experience of match days.
Leinster captain and player of the match Caelan Doris, plus winger James Lowe, react to a scrappy win over the Lions at Aviva Stadium
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"The cohesion part is a challenge when you’re chopping and changing but it sets us up for the season is the thing.
"Overall we’re pleased. The Lions – the way the game played out was the way we’d talked about it during the week; making sure we don’t get frustrated. Making sure we don’t get impatient with the ball.
"We’re probably still forcing things a little bit and the Lions are very tenacious the way they defend. They scramble really hard and they’ll go aggressively at the ball.
"We turned over possession in their 22 on a few different occasions. It’s a win for them, their energy levels go up, we’re maybe going a little flat.
"But we stuck at it okay, I thought. We get the job done. We win by 18 points. It seems like a decent win but there’s lots within the game that we’ll reflect on."
While Leinster couldn’t strike for a sixth bonus-point out of six, their defence maintained their dominant start to the season, holding the Lions try-less, and to just six points in total.
The province’s miserly defence has given up just 72 points across the opening six games, for an average of just 12 points per game.
And Cullen (below) was particularly pleased to see his side hold firm against a Lions side who had crossed the line 16 times in their previous four games.
"That's the thing, the Lions are scoring plenty of tries.
"As the second half [goes on], you're looking out and the rain is there, that makes it a little bit more difficult for both teams and we managed to keep them relatively away from our end of the field.
"They [the Lions] are unbelievably tenacious and well-drilled in what they do. They're four wins from four going into the game so they're a bloody good team.
"We're pleased to get over the line. This fixture, there was always a risk it would turn into that type of game, or worse, where they get a breakaway try or create something. They cut us in a lineout, some clever lineout plays, they cut us early and if they score from something like that we're chasing the game and it becomes a right dogfight. You'd find out a lot about some of the you fellas in the group.
"Overall we're pleased to get a win. Your natural instinct is you want to get the maximum, but it wasn't to be today. We'll take the win, bag the four points, and it's 'Move On' for the international break," he added.
