Leinster boss Leo Cullen: Best yet to come from Rieko Ioane

Rieko Ioane’s Leinster spell has yet to produce the same impact seen from some of the province’s other high-profile short-term signings, but head coach Leo Cullen believes the best is still to come from the All Blacks centre.

With Leinster heading into the decisive stage of the season, Cullen says the coming weeks should offer Ioane the stability needed to show his top form.

Rieko Ioane Leinster Form Under Focus

The 29-year-old joined Leinster on a short-term contract after the autumn internationals, following a similar route to fellow New Zealander Jordie Barrett.

While Barrett made an immediate attacking impact during his time with the province, Ioane has had a quieter run so far. He has made nine appearances and scored one try, offering a steady presence in midfield without yet becoming a dominant figure in Leinster’s campaign.

Leo Cullen Backing Rieko Ioane To Improve

Cullen said one of the biggest challenges for any overseas player is adapting quickly to a new environment. He pointed to the timing of Ioane’s arrival, which came after New Zealand duty and during a period when Leinster were rotating heavily through the festive schedule.

"One of the big challenges is, when you come in as a foreign player, like for this piece, integrating into the group," said Cullen,

"So, the main thing is Rieko is integrated really well into the group because there's moving parts, as we know, because he's come in December.

"He had obviously been away on tour with New Zealand. So, you're trying to get up to speed with lots of different levels".

Leinster Hope Stability Brings Best Of Ioane

With the international window now over, Cullen believes Leinster are entering a more settled period and hopes that will help Ioane hit his best level.

"And we're chopping and changing our team quite a bit because we try and manage the players over that Christmas period.

"Then you go into Six Nations where there's a big cohort. And so, there's a whole younger group that he's getting to know for the first time again.

"Now we have this sort of stability this time of year. So, hopefully, you'll see the best of Rieko over the next couple of weeks."