Leinster boss Leo Cullen says the media love to ‘throw the boot’ in the province

Cullen and Leinster, who cruised comfortably through the tournament last season, came under intense scrutiny after Northampton’s fast start saw them take a 12-point half-time lead.

The four-time champions fought back and nearly took the game away at the death, with Cullen late on reconsidering refereeing decisions that cost his side a 37-34 defeat last May.

A year later, he defended his side, who had never beaten three-time champions Toulon before, and said he always expected the Champions Cup semi-final to “never go to script”.

“Normally (in the last 10 minutes) you try and defend things, don’t you? The other team doesn’t have their defense and throws everything at it,” he added.

“This time last year we were sitting in this room. We were in that situation and we were throwing everything at Northampton. (Henry) Pollock poached a poacher – that should have been a penalty.

“It’s clearly illegal, but nobody wants to report it afterwards. We should have tried a penalty and nobody wants to report it. You just want to kick the boot into us, don’t you? But that’s how it goes.

“The semi-final came down to the tightest margin. In 2012, Wesley Fofana pushed the ball over the tryline and that’s how we (Leinster) got to the final.

“I’ll be kind to Toulon because they showed great attitude at the end.”

Leinster will travel to Bilbao for the final on Saturday, May 23, where they will face last year’s champions Bordeaux-Begules or Bath, who play on Sunday.

Cullen confirmed center Robbie Henshaw and flanker Josh van der Flier, who left the field with a head injury, will graduate and go through the return-to-play protocol.

Flanker Jack Conan limped off and “will be checked”, while Tommy O’Brien is said to be possibly suffering from cramp.

All four are key players for Cullen as Leinster seek a fifth Champions Cup in three weeks.