Leinster coach Stuart Lancaster targets home advantage in Europe
Thursday 19 January 2017 15:43, UK
Stuart Lancaster says the opportunity to secure a home tie in the European Champions Cup quarter-finals is "a big driver" for Leinster.
The Irish province - European champions on three occasions - are already guaranteed a place in the last eight of the competition.
But victory over Pool Four rivals Castres at Stade Pierre-Antoine in Friday's game, live on Sky, would secure all-important home advantage when the tournament resumes later this season.
"It's about getting a home quarter-final - that is certainly the big driver for us," Leinster senior coach Lancaster told their official website.
"I think French teams are different away from home than they are at home.
"I think we beat Castres at the RDS [in Dublin], and then they won their next two games. They are a tough team at home and a very proud team.
Live European Rugby Champions Cup
"We can't get complacent or underestimate the challenge that is coming our way."
Leinster confirmed top spot in the group by thumping Montpellier 57-3 on Friday as they scored eight tries, capitalising brilliantly after there was an early red card for opposition fly-half Francois Steyn.
"I felt we put a lot of pieces of the jigsaw together at the RDS on Friday night, and I think now it's the challenge to do it away from home," added Lancaster.
"We've done it intermittently away from home, but we've never had a consistent 80-minute performance. That is what we are driving for this Friday.
We can't get complacent or underestimate the challenge that is coming our way
"Castres will be disappointed with having lost to Northampton [last weekend]. They are a different team to Montpellier. They play a lot more unstructured rugby, good on counter-attack
"I think it will be an open game - we need to be ready."
Watch Castres v Leinster on Friday. Coverage begins on Sky Sports 2 HD at 7:30pm.
