While the Guinness PRO14 may have taken a brief sabbatical, European rugby rolled back around this weekend with a whole contingent of clubs from the competition taking to the field. And there were two all-Guinness PRO14 clashes, with Leinster easing past Benetton and Munster toppling Ospreys on a tricky trip to south Wales. With several other sides also in action, here’s the best reaction from the players and coaches who had a Champions and Challenge Cup weekend to remember. Cullen content but eyes room for improvement Leo Cullen’s Leinster took their Guinness PRO14 form with them into European action, beating Benetton 33-19 at the RDS Arena courtesy of a brilliant Garry Ringrose hat-trick and scores from Ronan Kelleher and Johnny Sexton. But despite his side’s imperious start to the season, Cullen believes last season’s Champions Cup finalists – who have recently welcomed back 14 players from the Rugby World Cup in Japan – can still get even better. “Overall we’re pleased – it wasn’t perfect, far from perfect, but it’s a win,” he said. “We’ve got the job done in many respects – off the back of what a lot of guys have been through, trying to come back in, it’s like their season is starting again. “In many ways, it’s round one for us as an entire squad – the challenge is the fact that we’re not really up and running with this group yet. “I think everyone thinks, ‘okay, the group is going well’, but the Pro 14, as we know, is very different to the challenge of Europe.” .@RingroseG today 🤩👇🎥: href=“https://twitter.com/btsportrugby?refsrc=twsrc%5Etfw”>@btsportrugby 🙌#LEIvBEN #JoinTheRoar pic.twitter.com/sl1FKAcO2N— Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) November 16, 2019
