Paul Rouse helps Leinster do Croke Park homework ahead of 'blood and thunder' derby

Saturday will be the first time in 15 years that the old rivals meet at the home of the GAA

82,300 people attended Croke Park for the Champions Cup Semi-Final between Leinster and Northampton Saints last May Photo: ©INPHO/Ben Brady

Leinster coach Robin McBryde is predicting a “blood and thunder” provincial derby when they meet Munster in a Croke Park stadium rapidly approaching sold-out status ahead of Saturday’s URC meeting.

It’s 15 years since these old rivals met at the home of the GAA, when a world record crowd for a club game of 82,000 took in their seminal Heineken Cup semi-final, and Leinster have reportedly shifted over 75,000 tickets as things stand.