Cullen and Leinster, who had comfortably cruised by means of the match final season, got here underneath intense scrutiny after Northampton’s quick begin noticed them take a 12-point lead at half-time.
The four-time champions fought again and virtually snatched the sport on the loss of life, with Cullen revisiting late refereeing choices that value his facet within the 37-34 defeat final Might.
A 12 months on, he defended his facet, who had beforehand by no means crushed three-time champions Toulon, and stated he all the time expects a Champions Cup semi-final to “by no means go to script”.
“Naturally [in the last 10 minutes] you try to defend issues, do not you? Whereas the opposite group they do not have safety and throw every little thing at it,” he added.
“We had been sitting on this room this time final 12 months. We had been in that scenario and we had been throwing every little thing at Northampton. [Henry] Pollock will get a poach – it ought to have been a penalty.
“It is clearly unlawful, however no person desires to report about it after. We must always have had a penalty try to no person desires to report about it. You simply wish to kick the boot into us, do not you? However that is the way in which it goes.
“Semi-finals come all the way down to the tightest of margins. In 2012, Wesley Fofana knocked the ball over the tryline and that’s how we [Leinster] received to the ultimate.
“I’d be variety to Toulon as they confirmed nice spirit to the very finish.”
Leinster will journey to Bilbao for the ultimate on Saturday, 23 Might, the place they are going to face final 12 months’s champions Bordeaux-Begles or Bathtub, who play on Sunday.
Cullen confirmed centre Robbie Henshaw and flanker Josh van der Flier, who left the sector with head accidents, will bear the graduated return-to-play protocol.
Flanker Jack Conan limped off and “will get checked”, with Tommy O’Brien stated to be possible affected by cramp.
All 4 are vital gamers for Cullen as Leinster search a fifth Champions Cup in three weeks’ time.
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