Leinster set win target before Ireland's November Tests as Sam Prendergast re-enters picture

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen wants this run to continue after beating Munster but that won't deter him from selecting Emerging Ireland players for Saturday's URC trip to Connacht

Leo Cullen has set his players a target of winning all six games in the opening URC block - but won't stick to his tried and trusted in doing so.

Sam Prendergast is among the young players who may get a chance against Connacht at the Dexcom Stadium next Saturday after a very experienced line-up took care of business against Munster at the weekend to make it 20 points from a possible 20 at the start of the season.

“The group is motivated but it is round four," said Blues boss Cullen. There are six games in this window, can we win all of them? The next thing is the Sportsground, which is such a tough place to go. It's dealing with conditions on the day, we are getting into winter rugby around now, and then deal with what the opposition throw at you.

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"Connacht have so many with such a strong Leinster connection. They know our group so well and they are very motivated when they come up against us so it’s going to be a right handful. They have shown really good form in the first few rounds.”

Cullen kept tabs on Prendergast's displays for Emerging Ireland in South Africa, with the rising No.10 the only player to start all three victories under head coach Simon Easterby.

"They certainly got plenty of good value out of him," said Cullen. "Listen, he produced some really good touches in all three of the games, steered the team around. And listen, he was there today and I only literally just saw him, he picked up a nice tan. But it’s great to have all those guys in now, isn’t it?"

Gus McCarthy returned early from South Africa to be involved against Munster and came off the bench at half-time for Lee Barron. With Dan Sheahan and Rónan Kelleher injured, McCarthy may have to start in Galway unless Barron is fit to play.

"So it’s more competition. James Culhane captained the team. Alex Soroka, who’s had a tough old couple of years with injuries, seeing him out there.

"Hugh Cooney, the young academy player who hasn’t been capped here yet, did well. Andrew Osborne, it looked like he’d go on, Cormac Foley got good game-time, Charlie Tector started the first couple of games for us. So yeah, very good overall. The big thing this week is to see how everyone is physically and emotionally.

“Some of those other lads were there in the dressing-room after this game and some of them may feature against Connacht, which is great off the back of playing some games over there. To get 20 points, you can’t ask for anything more.”

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