LEINSTER are heading for Croker after a Corker of a display sank La Rochelle.
Ronan O’Gara hoped bringing his squad to Leeside would give them an edge as they recovered from a trip to South Africa.
But they were blown away as Leo Cullen’s men scored five tries to set up a Champions Cup semi- final against Northampton at Croke Park on the first weekend in May.
Cullen was part of the first Leinster team to play at GAA HQ, when they beat Munster 25-6 in a last-four clash in 2009 en route to their first European crown. And he said: “We felt very fortunate as that group of players at that moment in time because there was a real provincial rivalry at that 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.
“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.
“We’re so appreciative of the people that were there. It means a hell of a lot to the team.
“Forty-plus thousand last week, fifty-plus thousand this week, it’s amazing for the group to have that level of backing.”
With Leinster chasing a fifth top-tier European crown, Cullen is likely to leave many of his big guns at home when they travel to South Africa on Tuesday for URC games against Lions and Stormers, to leave them in the best shape for the Northampton clash.
For now, though, he is relishing getting the better of La Rochelle in a knockout game after having their European hopes ended by O’Gara’s side for three seasons running.
Ryan Baird, Dan Sheehan and James Lowe, with his second, all got tries in a second half in which La Rochelle were held scoreless. Cullen added: “It’s learning from the past, isn’t it? So making sure you keep playing. That’s been the big thing in those games we’ve lost against these guys.
“We’ve probably gone into our shells a little bit and not quite fired enough shots in those second halves.
“Ryan Baird scored a try and Dan scores, they’re big moments, so three tries in the second half to nil, versus some of the previous outings.
“I know there’s other factors, travel and all the rest, that maybe play into that, but from our point of view, what can we control? Probably fire a few more shots.
“We’ve played against the great opponent that has won the tournament for the last two years.
“We were once upon a time the team that won the tournament two years in a row but the year after we couldn’t qualify from our group so we know how bloody hard it is.
“Now we have to just focus on getting ready for a semi-final and not getting too excited by anything. Northampton are playing some great rugby at the moment.”
The Saints cruised into the Croker semi as James Ramm and Alex Mitchell scored two tries apiece in a 59-22 home win over the Stormers. Courtney Lawes, Ollie Sleightholme, Alex Coles, Fraser Dingwall and Juarno Augustus also went over.