Investec Champions Cup: Croke Park a ‘step up’ from Aviva Stadium – Caelan Doris

Leinster’s Caelan Doris says playing at Croke Park was a “step up” from the Aviva Stadium.

His side beat Northampton Saints 20-17 on Saturday to advance to a third consecutive Champions Cup final, with the 82,300 attendance setting a new competition record.

The four-time winners previously filled the Aviva Stadium for their quarter-final victory over La Rochelle, a ground Doris knows well as a 41-cap Irish international.

Leinster, who will play Toulouse in the final at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on 25 May, moved the semi-final across Dublin to the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) ground, with the Aviva Stadium hosting football’s Europa League final later this month.

“I think it was a level up,” said the back row.

“From doing the lap at the start of the warm-up and when we got around to Hill 16 especially, you could feel the energy and the noise from the crowd. It was special.

“When we ran out for the first half, it was a step up from what we’ve experienced in the Aviva, probably because of the nature of it being a rare occasion to play here.

“So many fans travelling over from the southside [of Dublin], I’m sure we’d a few from the northside as well, and from the rest of the province. It was a great atmosphere.”