Leinster awaiting IRFU approval on Snyman deal as Leo Cullen sidesteps questions ‘out of respect for all parties’

Leo Cullen was keen to move on when pressed about the potential transfer at his press engagement this lunchtime, saying that the move is not his focus and that he’d prefer to move on “out of respect to all parties”.

Cullen wasn’t denying Leinster’s interest in the two-time World Cup winner who has played just 10 times in four seasons at Munster due to injury.

It is understood that Munster were left stunned by the potential move when they learned of it yesterday, having previously expected Snyman to move to Johann van Graan’s Bath.

The player himself is understood to be keen to remain in Ireland where his family are settled, while he has a pre-existing relationship with Leinster’s senior coach Jacques Nienaber and is close friends with Jason Jenkins who he’d ironically replace if the move is completed.

Leinster’s interest is very real and the transfer is likely to happen, but it is not yet over the line.

“Good question. It’s this time of year isn’t it?” Cullen said with a smile at his RDS event ahead of tomorrow’s Champions Cup clash with Sale Sharks.

“Marcus (O Buachalla, Leinster’s head of communications) will reveal all if there was something to be revealed.

“Listen, at the moment our attention is on Sale tomorrow, we talk about it at this time of year, there is lots of different conversations, discussions happening in the background so when those become a bit firmer, yeah, we’ll be the first to let you know.

“But, at the moment, it’s not where our attention is at the moment, and that is out of respect for all different parties as well. So yeah, focus on the game now, believe it’s a sell out, great to be here, the place is looking well.”

Cullen was asked what the process would be if they were to sign a player from another province.

“Of course there is conversations, you need permission and all the rest that would be normal course of events, there will be discussions in the background,” he said.

“I understand the questions and why you’re asking them, that’s not where our minds are at the moment. We’re focusing on this weekend. It’s a short turnaround if you think we’re coming from La Rochelle, travel back, and that’s all I’m really thinking about at the moment.”

Leinster have made four changes to the team that beat La Rochelle, with Ciarán Frawley coming in for the injured Harry Byrne at out-half.

Thomas Clarkson, Jenkins and Josh van der Flier come into the pack, with Jack Conan and Sam Prendergast among the replacements.

Sale are travelling without a host of their front-line players including Manu Tuilagi and George Ford.

“The way they play the game is still the way they’ll play the game,” Cullen said.

“It’s based on a philosophy of the way they have of playing.

“A lot of guys in this 23 have played plenty of games for them this season.

“That’s the first thing we’ve to be very conscious of, when you see changes in the 23, players who are not there, our minds can race ahead.

“You always want to guard against any level of complacency there might be but for us, regardless of who we’re playing against, for us as a group, the players in particular on the field that are selected this week, there’s a responsibility to put on a performance for the people that turn out to watch us.

“We got off the bus last week in La Rochelle, you are greeted by a sea of blue flags and Leinster fans, which was amazing. We’ll have a huge crowd here tomorrow, which is what we want to see. We want to be able to put on a performance.

“The thing about this competition is you are not even competing against the team on the day, in many ways, or the teams that are in your pools because of the seedings piece you are competing against the other pools as well so you really do that to go after every single point that’s available on any given day.

“But Sale, going back to them, they will have a strong kicking game, they will be very aggressive around the contact area and whether they have changes in personnel, I don’t think that makes any real difference, I think that’s in their DNA, that’s the way they are being coached.

“Dorian West, excellent forwards coach, (Alex) Sanderson from his time with Sarries and having played against us in the past, he has an understanding of what can get in amongst us because he’s had success with Saracens against us. That’s a very dangerous piece and we need to understand that.”