Massive crowd backing Leinster's Heineken Cup bid

Tickets for the big game on Saturday, 7 April are still on sale and the attendance will be a far cry from the 7,350 who turned out to see Leinster face Cardiff in the semi-finals at the old Lansdowne Road in 1995.

That is the only time the two teams have met in the knock-out stages in the Heineken Cup, when Cardiff won 14-12 before losing in extra time to Toulouse in the inaugural final at the National Ground, Cardiff Arms Park.

Leinster, the reigning champions, will be taking an unbeaten record at the new Aviva Stadium into their quarter-final and will be hoping to stay on course to threaten Leicester Tigers' record of being the only team to retain the Heineken Cup and become only the second team to win European rugby's top title for a third time.

Their attendances at the Aviva will shoot through the 200,000 barrier and one player in particular who will feel very much at home on Saturday, 7 April will be Leinster and Ireland outside half Jonny Sexton. He averages more than 15 points per game for his province in Heineken Cup matches at the Aviva having amassed 63 in their four previous games there.

It is also a happy hunting ground for Leinster try scorers with 13 scored in four games and only seven conceded. It all adds up to a tough task for the Blues, although with Jamie Roberts, Leigh Halfpenny, Alex Cuthbert and Bradley Davies all having played in a winning Welsh team at the Aviva already this season the Welsh region will travel with some confidence.

Leinster Rugby at the Aviva Stadium
Rd 4 - 18/12/10 Leinster 24, ASM Clermont Auvergne 8 (Att: 44,873)
Q-F - 09/04/11 Leinster 17, Leicester Tiges 10 (Att: 49,762)
S-F - 30/04/11 Leinster 32, Toulouse 23 (Att: 50,073)
Rd 4 - 17/12/11 Leinster 52, Bath 27 (Att: 46,365)

P 4 W 4 F 125 A 68 Tries For 13 Tries Agst 7 Att 191,073

Tickets for the Heineken Cup quarter-final between Leinster and Cardiff Blues are still available from http://www.leinsterrugby.ie as well as Ticketmaster outlets nationwide.