Leinster captain Caelan Doris: Croke Park 'an iconic stadium for Irish culture'

Michael Glennon Michael Glennon | 05-04 00:15

Caelan Doris says Leinster feel very fortunate to get a chance to play in the "iconic" Croke Park.

A place in the Investec Champions Cup decider agaainst either Toulouse or Harlequins, who meet on Sunday, is up for grabs for the winners.

The Mayo native said: "I have been in the stands plenty of times for some good days as well as plenty of bad ones.

"It's class, it is an iconic stadium for Irish culture.

"We feel very fortunate as a group to have a crack there tomorrow.

"We have Declan Darcy [Leinster performance coach, former Leitrim and Dublin footballer, below] in with us, who has been with us for the last couple of years.

"His message to us was [Croke Park] magnifies your performance, whether it is a good one or a bad one.

"Our plan, our prep over the last two weeks has been about getting our best performance and hopefully that will get the crowd involved, build an atmosphere and make it a special days for us.

"It’s been a good couple of weeks prep and we are excited for tomorrow."

Earlier, Leo Cullen named his team with Ringrose (shoulder) and Hugo Keenan (hip) both missing out.

"Garry, he was making good progress at the start of the week and he's not quite right," said the head coach.

"Similarly, Hugo was never really going to be right this week.

"Garry's probably the one that we thought [could be fit], but he's going to be a little bit longer."

Utility back Jimmy O’Brien, however, has recovered from a neck injury and is named among the replacements.

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen said it was "a real privilege" for his side to play at Croke Park as he named his team for Saturday's Champions Cup semi-final against Northampton | Full story: https://t.co/693ob2x2a7 pic.twitter.com/1DOROkDea2

— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) May 3, 2024

Cullen (above) captained Leinster on the only previous occasion the side played at the Dublin 3 venue, the Heineken Cup semi-final win over Munster in 2009.

He added: "It's class being here, it brings back a few memories... hazy ones. It's an amazing place and it'll be a good occasion.

"It's a real privilege to be here, it's a magnificent stadium.

"It's iconic, not just in terms of sport but in Irish society.

"For this generation of players to get that chance, Cian [Healy] being the only one that's still there from the previous time Leinster played here 15 years ago.

"I hope we do it justice this week, the guys have prepared well. Not just this week, but the previous week as well.

"We'd a chunk of guys who travelled to South Africa, so that's the big thing - to make sure the guys do themselves justice really.

Leinster players at the captain's run on Friday afternoon

"That’s what it is about playing in a great arena in front of lots of support.

"It’s an amazing response that the crowd have given the team on the back of the previous couple of knockout games that we have had at the Aviva. Everyone is looking forward to it now.

"We talk about this point quite often, when we are at this moment, sitting in a press room somewhere and you just want to press fast forward and get on with the game.

"Everyone has to go through their normal rituals and get themselves ready for the action."

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