As Leinster prepare for their second game in Croke Park this year, James Lowe hopes it will be another big win for his province.
Lowe joined a number of first team players in making his first start of the season last Saturday in Leinster’s bonus point win away to Benetton.
This Saturday will see them play against their biggest rivals Munster in Croke Park, the first time the sides have played each other in the stadium since the famous 2009 European Cup semi-final.
That day saw a 25-6 win for Leinster, with Leinster going on to the Heineken Cup final, the first of four within three years.
In the build up to the game, the Leinster winger is looking for more joy in Croke Park, having scored a hat-trick in Leinster’s semi-final win over Northampton back in April.
“It is an amazing venue with so much history behind it”, said Lowe.
“To be given the opportunity to play there against Munster is something we will never take for granted.
“It was good to get on to the pitch, pre-season sucks. There is no other way of sugar-coating that.
“There were patches last week we showed how dominant we can be in all aspects of the game. In that first half, we controlled the ball well, we controlled the tempo against a very good Italian side.”
Since making his Ireland debut in 2020, Lowe has enjoyed some incredible moments in the green jersey with players from Munster.
Two Six Nations titles, including a Grand Slam, and a series win in New Zealand, will be moments remembered for years to come.
However, once the first whistle blows on Saturday, the friendships will be pushed to one side, as Lowe says there is “mutual hate” between the provinces.
““There’s a mutual hate of each other. You say it in the most respectful way; and there’s some great players in that Munster side.
“To watch the growth of Craig Casey, Jack Crowley and Calvin Nash; they’re all boys we’re friendly with in the Irish camp. But I can tell you, on Saturday that goes out the window. I still want to run over them, and I’m sure they’re saying the same thing on the other side.
“Obviously there is a lot of history between the two clubs. The last time Leinster played Munster there, I can vividly remember Sexton screaming at ROG in the corner. They are the images you remember.
“I think there is two other clubs of this sort of size that can fill an 80,000-seater in the world in week four of the URC.”
