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Cullen – ‘There are a ton of things we need to work on’

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Leo Cullen has demanded Leinster stand up and be counted in the aftermath of their heavy defeat to the Stormers in the opening game of the BTK United Rugby Championship.

The defending champions were held scoreless in the league for the first time since 2008 and conceded four tries to John Dobson’s dominant charges.

“Lads need to show what they’re made of. We all need to show what we’re made of, players and coaches,” said Cullen after the 35-0 defeat in Cape Town.

“If you’re not winning contact points or gaining some level of pressure on the opposition, which we didn’t really apply any pressure at any stage.

“It was 6-0 at half-time when we were probably hanging in there.

“I thought the guys hung in well. But then we’re not particularly accurate in terms of how we chase the game after that.”

Leinster, who conceded 16 penalites, lost three lineouts and two scrums, in addition to having Max Deegan and Tommy O’Brien sent to the bin in the second-half, take on last season’s beaten finalists Bulls next Saturday in Pretoria (5.30pm Irish time).

26 September 2025; Andrew Sparrow of Leinster after the United Rugby Championship match between DHL Stormers and Leinster at DHL Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa. Photo by Shaun Roy/Sportsfile
Prop Andrew Sparrow won his first Leinster cap

“Listen, there are a ton of things we need to work on,” added the head coach,

“Over here, the set-piece battle is going to be huge.

“So, making sure we put in a big week in terms of how we prepare set-piece wise.

“Just in terms of a lot more accuracy across the board, some of that contact work as well.

“Lots of work. Lots of work this week.

“We’ll be up in Pretoria over there for a full week. Acclimatise to altitude and all the rest.

“Listen, the players are all saying the right stuff in the dressing room. They know what’s gone on there.

“The best intentions going into a game and then this is your first game of the season and you’re like, ‘oof, there’s a whole different level out there’.

“We know it’s tough over here.”

26 September 2025; Leinster head coach Leo Cullen and Luke McGrath of Leinster are interviewed after their side's defeat in the United Rugby Championship match between DHL Stormers and Leinster at DHL Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa. Photo by Shaun Roy/Sportsfile
Leo Cullen and Luke McGrath (r) speak to the media after the game

Leinster, captained by Luke McGrath, were without their Lions contingent and the injured Caelan Doris, were overpowered throughout.

“The system only works if we’re physical and I thought we got physically dominated today, if I was being really honest,” said McGrath.

“They got over the gain-line much easier. Our defence, we made a lot of mistakes in defence, which put us under pressure.”

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Alcaraz hails ‘best physio in world’ after victory

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27 September 2025

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Craig Nelson

BBC Sport Journalist
  • 19 minutes ago

Carlos Alcaraz said he had the “best physio in the world” after shrugging off concerns about an ankle injury to beat Zizou Bergs in the second round of the Japan Open.

The world number one had said he was “scared” after landing awkwardly during his first-round win over Sebastian Baez on Thursday.

But the 22-year-old Spaniard looked in little trouble as he cruised to a 6-4 6-3 victory over unseeded Belgian Bergs to set up a quarter-final against Brandon Nakashima in Tokyo.

“I could play, I would say, normally,” said Alcaraz, who won the US Open last month.

“I was worried about some movements on the court where I could feel the ankle, but in general I think I played a great match.

“I said before and I’m going to say it again – I have the best physio in the world, who I trust 100%, and the work he has done for the ankle I think has been great.”

Elsewhere, world number two Jannik Sinner was taken to three sets by 23-year-old French qualifier Terence Atmane in the China Open, winning 6-4 5-7 6-0 to reach the quarter-finals.

The Italian, who lost to Alcaraz in the final of the US Open but has won the Australian Open and Wimbledon this season, wobbled in the second set after twice leading by a break.

Atmane produced one of the surprise runs of the season to reach the semi-finals of the Cincinnati Masters in August, where he lost to Sinner.

But after powering his way to a decider in Beijing, he began to struggle with cramp, allowing Sinner to breeze through the third set to set up a last-eight match against Hungary’s Fabian Marozsan.

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‘Very streetwise’ – Glasner’s 17-game unbeaten run at Palace

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27 September 2025

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BBC Sport pundits Ashley Williams and Martin Keown analyse Crystal Palace’s defence as Oliver Glasner’s Eagles look to extend a 17-game unbeaten run when they play Liverpool on Saturday.

READ MORE: Can you name the Palace v Liverpool line-ups from their 2014 thriller?

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Silver for Brady while Ní Riain wins bronze on last day of World Para Swimming Championships

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33 minutes ago

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27 September 2025

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31 mins ago

DEARBHAILE BRADY HAS won a silver medal for Ireland while Róisín Ní Riain has claimed a bronze medal on the final day of the World Para Swimming Championships in Singapore.

Brady, who won bronze 50m Freestyle (S6) earlier this week, added silver to her collection after a brilliant performance in the S6 50m Butterfly.

The 18-year-old from Derry clocked 35.61 to finish behind world record holder Yuyan Jiang of China.

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Ní Riain won a bronze medal in the SM13 200m Individual Medley after clocking 2:29.75 to clinch her fifth medal of the Championships. The Limerick swimmer has won a medal in all five of the events she competed in, adding to the three silvers and another bronze which she won in the S13 100m butterfly.

She comfortably booked a spot in her fifth final earlier this morning after finishing her heat in 2:34.90 to take second place.

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