Leo Cullen hoping Leinster attract big Croke Park crowd for Champions Cup semi-final
Quarter Leinster Final The By La Photo At The Aviva Before Head Against Investec Rochelle Cup Stadium Cullen Champions Coach Match Ramsey Leo Cardy/sportsfile
Leinster head coach Leo Cullen is hoping that the province can attract a bumper crowd to Croke Park for their Champions Cup semi-final against Northampton Saints in three weeks’ time.
The four-time tournament champions booked their return to GAA HQ 15 years after beating Munster there in front of a world record crowd for a club rugby match by overcoming Ronan O’Gara’s La Rochelle 40-13 in the Aviva Stadium on Saturday evening.
The Saints put the Bulls to the sword a few hours later in Franklin’s Gardens.
Leinster’s ability to attract large crowds has been obvious for some time in their regular visits across Ballsbridge from the RDS to the Aviva. They had a full-house of 51,700 for this grudge match against La Rochelle despite having only six days to sell the tickets.
“We have a three-week lead in to a semi-final and it would be amazing to get a big crowd in Croke Park because you couldn't take that for granted,” said Cullen.
“There's a lot competition for attention, as we know.”
Cullen was captain when Leinster faced their provincial rivals at the iconic Jones’ Road venue back in 2009, a game which transformed the landscape of Irish and European club/provincial rugby given Munster were reigning champions at the time.
“Nobody gave us a chance in 2009 to win that game but it's a different moment in time now for the group of players. It's amazing to get that opportunity to do it because it's such an iconic venue in Irish society. Not just sport. An amazing opportunity for this group.”
Leinster have some business to attend to before that Saints semi-final with two URC games against the Lions and the Stormers this next two weekends. The squad flies out to South Africa on Tuesday.
Leinster sit five points clear at the summit of the URC table but there is no prospect of any frontliners playing that second game, against the Stormers, one week before the ‘European’ semi-final game. It may be that some travel out for the Lions tie and return swiftly after it.
One of those first-world problems.
“Credit to the lads, it's the 23 not just the 15, but it's also the lads who prepared the team during the week,” said Cullen of this win. “A lot of selfless stuff has gone on in the group, which is the most pleasing part.
“Hopefully we'll see that over the next few weeks. We're going to South Africa on Tuesday ourselves so we have to try and juggle and manage all that. Lions in Ellis Park and Stormers in Cape Town. Then a trip to Croke Park which is always exciting.”