Leinster are looking to win their first European Cup since 2012 this weekend when they face Racing 92, and Ruaidhri O'Connor says a lot of the credit for that lies at the feet of Leo Cullen for allowing Stuart Lancaster to join the backroom staff.
The Irish Independent's rugby correspondent joined Joe Molloy on Off The Ball this evening and said that while Lancaster's impact has been very noticeable, credit should be given to Cullen for his willingness to delegate and share the glory, something he did during his playing days as well.
"I looked back through the pictures because I couldn't remember an image of him lifting the Heineken Cup on his own. In 2009 he lifted it with Chris Whittaker, in 2011 he lifted it with Shane Horgan and Gordon Darcy, and in 2012 he lifted it with Shane Jennings".
"It's interesting that he went with a collaborative approach each time. Obviously it's his leadership style, he's never been dictatorial, it's always been about the greater good for the whole group".
"Devin Toner said the other day that as soon as Leo came back from Leicester he was a coach in a number five jersey. He ran the show as a coach on the pitch".
O'Connor also said that Cullen's willingness to allow others help the side from a coaching standpoint means he may not be getting the credit he deserves for the work he's done turning the club around and allowing other to help him.
"Stuart Lancaster deserves huge credit for the job that he's done since he came in, but he's gotten it. Every time you speak to anyone it's always Stuart, Stuart, Stuart".
"I wrote about it the day after they gave their first press conference together, I thought he was signing his own death warrant as a coach".
"Cullen is much more taciturn and prefers to shrug things off and laugh things off. As a result he probably doesn't get the huge amount of credit he deserves, because he's put Leinster back to the position they were last in. There was a rebuilding job to be done and he's done it".
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