Heineken Cup
Leinster eye repeat performance
ESPNscrum Staff
December 12, 2011
Leinster's Jonathan Sexton hands off Bath's Ryan Caldwell, Bath v Leinster, Heineken Cup, The Rec, Bath, England, December 11, 2011
Jonathan Sexton shone for Leinster on Sunday at the Rec © Getty Images
Enlarge
Related Links
Players/Officials: Mike Ross
Tournaments/Tours: Heineken Cup

Leinster prop Mike Ross is calling for another strong performance as they prepare to face Bath in front of more than 40,000 supporters at Dublin's Aviva Stadium on Saturday.

There were 41,063 fans at Wembley Stadium watching Saracens beat the Ospreys 31-26 in Round 3 - the fifth highest Pool match attendance in the 17 seasons of the tournament - and advance sales for the Aviva showdown are already around the 43,000 mark.

Leinster moved three points clear of Glasgow Warriors at the top of the Pool after both notched up wins, Glasgow beating Montpellier 20-15 while Heineken Man-of-the-Match Jonny Sexton accounted for all Leinster's points with six penalty goals in the 18-13 win over Bath.

"We have a good win ratio at the Aviva - we have not lost there in the Heineken Cup - and it is great to be playing at the home of Irish rugby," said prop Mike Ross. "The win in Bath means things are in our own hands so it is up to us to get another win on Saturday to keep accumulating points and so, hopefully, keep us in the mix for a home quarter-final."

Leinster are now unbeaten in their last nine Heineken Cup games, the only blemish the 16-16 Round 1 draw at Montpellier. That run includes three contests at the Aviva - a 24-8 Pool stage win over ASM Clermont Auvergne; a 17-10 quarter-final victory over Leicester Tigers and a 32-23 semi-final triumph over Toulouse en route to their second Heineken Cup title last season.

Bath are now five points adrift but Ross said: "It was tough work - The Rec is a hard place to come away from with a win - and, although we probably left a few tries behind, getting the win was vital. And we expect nothing less than another hard fought game against them on Saturday. English clubs turn up whatever their position in the Pool and Bath will be no different."

And at the halfway stage of the group games there are only three clubs left with three from three - former double winners Munster at the top of Pool 1, Cardiff Blues at the head of Pool 2 and four times champions Toulouse leading Pool 6.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

Live Sports

Communication error please reload the page.