Leinster rugby boss Leo Cullen can joke he has lent Bruce Springsteen his 'gaff' for the week.
The Boss's taking over of the RDS has a 'homeless' Leinster means playing their URC quarter-final against South Africa side Sharks at the Aviva Stadium.
Only the bottom tier of the ground will be open as Leinster expect to sell under 17,000 tickets.
READ MORE: Bruce Springsteen shocks locals as he leads singsong at rural pub in ancestral town
No matter Cullen, a massive Springsteen fan, is only too happy to let the rock star have the run of his home venue.
“I've actually seen him before in own place, New Jersey, so I'll be popping along now he is here," he says.
"I’m a big fan of Bruce, great showman, great performer, inspirational really isn’t it, seeing someone who is , what, 73 years of age that’s in the condition he’s in?
"In terms of how he performs it’s amazing, sort of three-and-a-half hours is his regular sort of show. It’s incredible really when you think about it, 73 years of age.
Springsteen, says Cullen, could teach his rugby squad a thing or two about endurance!
“Three-and-a-half hours up on stage and just that repeat performance.
"Sportspeople are performers really. But when you see someone like that, a performer, and it’s just the love of the craft and delivering a performance because they love what they do."
There are a lot of parallels, suggests Cullen, between being in a band and on a team.
"That’s what we want out guys here to do, love what they do., So it’s not a chore for them to come into Leinster. You talk about this sequence of games.
"It’s about just loving the time together, and whoever of the 45 senior squad or 20-odd Academy in the building, whoever then gets the opportunity to represent that group, it’s all about delivering a performance. And loving that time together.
"I’ve seen him numerous times before, the Boss yeah, and loved it but to still have the love for the game, still rocking at 73 years and I presume he’s made a few quid along the way too!"
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