Leinster at Croke Park: Leo Cullen urges fans to come out in force for special day

Speaking after the Champions Cup trouncing of La Rochelle, Cullen said of the Blues support: "It means a hell of a lot to the team. Hopefully that stays strong and the crowd, but that's a few weeks away"

Leo Cullen is urging Leinster fans to fill Croke Park for their Champions Cup semi-final.

Cullen's Blues took down Ronan O'Gara's back to back defending champions La Rochelle with a famous 40-13 Aviva Stadium victory that makes the province the team to beat in Europe.

With the Lansdowne Road venue out of bounds due to its use for the Europa League final, Leinster's semi-final will be against Munster's conquerors Northampton Saints and will take place at GAA Headquarters on the first weekend in May.

READ MORE: Ronan O'Gara admits to 'hammering' from Leinster but refuses to make excuses for La Rochelle

And, after filling the 51,300 capacity Aviva for the La Rochelle clash, Leinster have a lot of work to do to fill the 82,500 capacity Croke Park.

"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 head coach Cullen.

"There's a lot competition for attention, as we know.

"But we're so appreciative of the people that were there. It means a hell of a lot to the team. Hopefully that stays strong and the crowd, but that's a few weeks away.

"It (Croke Park) hasn't been talked about a lot, and that's honest to God. Even in the dressing room after the game we didn't talk about it.

"The odd question here and there over the last while, 'is this a chance' and I know a lot of positive work has gone on to get this game on there.

"But you have to get to the game first. You can't get too far in front."

Cullen was part of the 2009 Leinster side that last played at Croke Park in the semi-final victory over Munster.

"We felt very fortunate as a group of players in that moment in time in 2009 to play that semi-final because it's a provincial rivalry, there's a real rivalry at that time," he said.

"Well, was there a real rivalry, nobody gave us a chance in '09 to win that game, it was a very different moment in time.

"But it's a different moment in time now, and 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.

"So it's an amazing opportunity for this group, but we have a trip to South Africa next week to get excited by, and then we'll start making a plan for that semi-final, where it is."

Leinster are going to play the Lions and the Stormers in the URC over the next fortnight, and Cullen is expected to wrap most of his frontliners in cotton wool ahead of the European semi-final.

He added: "The main thing from our point of view is how appreciative we are of the support that's out there, 40-plus thousand last week, 50-plus thousand there today.

"It's amazing for the group to have that level of backing because what do we want as a group in terms of yes, they've gone through a lot of learning from pretty painful stuff over the last couple of years, let's face it.

"Just trying to be better when we get the next opportunity and hopefully we'll get other opportunities, and we have a semi-final opportunity, which is great.

"Because you want to have performances - like, they support what they see, what they're proud of."

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