Cullen relishing home-ground support but very wary of Toulouse

The men of Leinster are eager for action as they embark on their semi-final showdown with defending champions, Toulouse, according to head coach Leo Cullen. 

Cullen has stuck with basically the same squad which brushed Leicester Tigers aside in the quarters at Welford Road, and is grateful for the home support his troops will enjoy at the Aviva. 

"It's amazing to be here at the Aviva for a semi-final and everyone is just excited to get going," Cullen said. 

"It's a very quick turnaround from a quarter-final to a semi-final but there are parts of the week that are going quite slowly as well, it's almost like we just want to get out there and play the game. 

"So huge credit to everyone in the ticket office, they've managed to get close to 40,000 tickets sold already and hopefully push that on over the next 24 hours and we'll get that sea of blue here, which is what everyone has really craved that's involved with the team. 

"Because we've been in this situation the last couple of seasons, playing these big play-off games in Europe and haven't had any supporters at all. 

"To be at this stage of the competition, a semi-final here at the Aviva, we'd like to be able to press fast forward and get into the action because it's just a very, very exciting time for us." 

Despite his optimism, Cullen is well aware of the threat posed by a French-international-laden Toulouse outfit. 

"They have the ability just to turn it on at this stage of the season," he said. 

"Like, there's two different styles, they have the pressure game where they tighten things up and keep the game very, very tight, then they've the ability to open up at moments in the game as well with some of the players that they have. 

"It's been pretty well documented, you've seen some of their individuals, the big seasons they've had, not just with Toulouse but with France. 

"And they've a huge amount of experience in the team now that has produced on the big days, during the course of the Six Nations and you saw it during the November internationals as well. 

"It's a great challenge for our guys. They are the five time champions, they're the current champions, they're the Top 14 champions and they have a Grand Slam winning group of players as well. 

"But that's what our guys wanted, they want to be up against this type of team at this stage of the tournament. 

"That's what I mean, we're waiting now and everyone just wants to get into the game at this point. 

"From our point of view, there were some good parts in our performance, there's a lot of things we can get better at and that's what we've tried to focus on as a group this week. 

"We just want to get going now. 

"When you're at the Aviva, there's a certain familiarity,” he continued. “But we can't rely on it. We have the crowd's support, it feeds into the energy of the team. 

"For us to deliver that type of performance which brings a lot of energy and intent to our play, that's the thing we've tried to focus on. 

"Toulouse are hugely experienced, and they'll be trying to find ways to disrupt our flow. 

"We've discussed certain things that they may do, but again we have to be able to be alert to the things that they're trying to impose upon us. 

"It's a fascinating challenge, they're a great team. We watched on with great interest last year, we got knocked out in the semi-final against La Rochelle, and watched Toulouse go on and beat La Rochelle. 

"We have huge respect for them as a team. We're just excited to get going at this point, we're dying for kickoff. 

"Let's get it on now, it's what we're excited about, and just rip into the challenge of playing the top team of Europe over the last 25 years of the competition. 

"It doesn't get much better, really. We're excited to get going."