For their first home match in this season’s Heineken Champions Cup, Munster meet Gloucester for the eight time with the province emerging with five victories from the previous seven clashes.
HEINEKEN CHAMPIONS CUP – POOL 2: Saturday, October 20
MUNSTER (3rd) v GLOUCESTER (1st), Thomond Park, 1pm (live Virgin Media One/Channel 4/BT Sport 2/Newstalk/highlights Virgin Media One)
Team News: Munster head coach Johann van Graan has made four changes, all in the pack, to the team that drew 10-all away to Exeter Chiefs in last Saturday’s Pool 2 opener. An all-new front row has been named with James Cronin, Rhys Marshall and John Ryan coming into the starting XV.
The second row pairing of Jean Kleyn and Tadhg Beirne is retained, while the final change sees Tommy O’Donnell join captain Peter O’Mahony and CJ Stander in the back row. Hooker Niall Scannell misses out after picking up a knock in training.
With Keith Earls still recovering from a hamstring injury, the province’s back-line remains the same with a back-three of Mike Haley, Andrew Conway and Darren Sweetnam. Dan Goggin and Rory Scannell form the centre partnership with Joey Carbery, who makes his first European start at Thomond Park, and Duncan Williams at half-back.
Kevin O’Byrne, Arno Botha and Alby Mathewson join the replacements bench with New Zealander Mathewson returning from the knee injury he sustained recently against Leinster. He played for Toulon in last season’s Champions Cup, while South African back rower Botha is a tournament newcomer.
In support of Munster Rugby’s nominated charity for the season, the Irish Cancer Society, the matchday squad will wear pink T-shirts during the warm-up for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. With over 22,000 tickets already sold for the game, the Ticket Office at Thomond Park will remain open until 7pm tonight and will be open from 9am tomorrow. Buy tickets for Munster v Gloucester online here.
Meanwhile, Gloucester head coach Johan Ackermann has made two changes to the starting line-up – one in the backs and one in the pack – as they travel to Limerick on the back of a 19-14 first round win over Castres Olympique at Kingsholm.
Matt Banahan replaces Charlie Sharples on the right wing, while Ed Slater comes in for former Munster lock Gerbrandt Grobler and will skipper the side. The South African moves to the bench to accommodate Slater’s return and Gareth Evans, who was registered for European action this week, will provide the back row cover.
The Cherry and Whites have been hit by early season injuries, particularly in the forward ranks, with Ruan Ackermann, Gareth Denman, Ruan Dreyer, James Hanson, Willi Heinz, Jaco Kriel, Lewis Ludlow, Paddy McAllister, Will Safe, top-scoring winger Sharples, who has scored eight tries in the Gallagher Premiership this season, and Henry Trinder all unavailable for selection.
MUNSTER: Mike Haley; Andrew Conway, Dan Goggin, Rory Scannell, Darren Sweetnam; Joey Carbery, Duncan Williams; James Cronin, Rhys Marshall, John Ryan, Jean Kleyn, Tadhg Beirne, Peter O’Mahony (capt), Tommy O’Donnell, CJ Stander.
Replacements: Kevin O’Byrne, Dave Kilcoyne, Stephen Archer, Billy Holland, Arno Botha, Alby Mathewson, JJ Hanrahan, Sam Arnold.
GLOUCESTER: Jason Woodward; Matt Banahan, Billy Twelvetrees, Mark Atkinson, Tom Marshall; Danny Cipriani, Callum Braley; Josh Hohneck, Franco Marais, Fraser Balmain, Tom Savage, Ed Slater (capt), Freddie Clarke, Jake Polledri, Ben Morgan.
Replacements: Henry Walker, Val Rapava Ruskin, Ciaran Knight, Gerbrandt Grobler, Gareth Evans, Ben Vellacott, Owen Williams, Tom Hudson.
Referee: Alexandre Ruiz (France)
Assistant Referees: Maxime Chalon, Luc Ramos (both France)
Television Match Official: Philippe Bonhoure (France)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Munster to win: 1/8; Draw: 25/1; Gloucester to win: 11/2
Pre-Match Quotes: Johann van Graan (Munster) – “We’ve known each other a long time and Johan (Ackermann) is a coach I respect. He loves an attacking brand of rugby, you can see the different way that Gloucester have been playing over the last season. I believe a lot of it is down to him.
“We’re under no illusions about what awaits us on Saturday. They have the second highest ball-in-play after Exeter in the Premiership, they like to hold onto the ball as well. They do it in a different way to Exeter but this will be a real test.
“Gloucester play off 9 and off 10. Danny Cipriani’s distribution skills are very good, I think he’s had a very good year. His goal-kicking is very good, and his broken-field play – he is one of those players who can win a game on his own. Billy Twelvetrees is a player that I really rate. I think their back-three are a big threat on attack.
“Ben Morgan, at number 8, played very well last weekend. And we know what Gerbrandt Grobler can do – his offloading. I worked with Franco Marais as well at the Sharks. They’ve got threats all over the park so it is going to be a huge battle.”
Johan Ackermann (Gloucester) – “I think the guys can take a lot of confidence from the fact that, despite the wet conditions, we still played decently (against Castres). We did miss some scoring opportunities but, if the weather is poor in Munster, that was a good test for us.
“Munster had a dry day down at Exeter but a very strong wind which can be worse to play in. So, it’s difficult to read too much tactically into that game. The one thing they did show is that they can keep hold of the ball, going beyond 25 phases at times, and they are a resilient side.
“To go down to Exeter and keep them at bay shows that they are very strong defensively and it’s going to be a massive challenge. They’ve been very successful in the past in this competition but, on the pitch, we control our own destiny. We have to go out there and give it everything and see where it goes.”
Current Form – Munster – (GUINNESS PRO14): Won 38-0 v Toyota Cheetahs (home), Lost 25-10 v Glasgow Warriors (away), Won 49-13 v Ospreys (home), Lost 37-13 v Cardiff Blues (away), Won 64-7 v Ulster (home), Lost 30-22 v Leinster (away); (Heineken Champions Cup): Drew 10-10 v Exeter Chiefs (away)
Gloucester – (Gallagher Premiership): Won 27-16 v Northampton Saints (home), Drew 31-31 v Bath (away), Won 35-13 v Bristol Bears (home), Lost 38-15 v Saracens (away), Lost 27-25 v Harlequins (home), Won 35-21 v Wasps (away); (Heineken Champions Cup): Won 19-14 v Castres Olympique (home)
Top Scorers – 2018/19 Heineken Champions Cup: Munster – Points: Joey Carbery, CJ Stander 5 each; Tries: CJ Stander 1; Gloucester – Points: Danny Cipriani 14; Tries: Callum Braley 1
Previous European Meetings: 7
Saturday, January 11, 2014 – Pool 6 – Gloucester 7 Munster 20, Kingsholm
Saturday, October 19, 2013 – Pool 6 – Munster 26 Gloucester 10, Thomond Park
Saturday, April 5, 2008 – Quarter-final – Gloucester 3 Munster 16, Kingsholm
Saturday, January 17, 2004 – Pool 5 – Munster 35 Gloucester 14, Thomond Park
Saturday, January 10, 2004 – Pool 5 – Gloucester 22 Munster 11, Kingsholm
Saturday, January 18, 2003 – Pool 2 – Munster 33 Gloucester 6, Thomond Park
Saturday, October 12, 2002 – Pool 2 – Gloucester 35 Munster 16, Kingsholm
Match Facts –
– This will be the eighth European Cup meeting between Munster and Gloucester. The province have won five of the previous seven, including each of the last four
– Gloucester have picked up two wins from their last three visits to Ireland in the tournament, beating Ulster and Connacht, but losing to Munster in the 2013/14 season
– Gloucester are looking to win their opening two games of a European Cup campaign for the first time since 2007/08 when they went on to reach the quarter-final
– After drawing just one previous game (18-18 v Neath in October 1998), Munster have now opened their last two campaigns with a draw
– Gloucester missed just six tackles in beating Castres in round 1, no side missed fewer, and their 95% tackle success rate was the best of the 20 competing teams
– Munster stole five opposition lineouts in round 1, two more than any other side managed over the opening weekend
– Neither Danny Cipriani (5/5) nor Joey Carbery (2/2) missed a shot at goal in the opening round, Cipriani’s 14-point haul against Castres was the second most he has scored in 24 games against Top 14 opponents in Europe (28 v Oyonnax in December 2013)
– Ben Morgan and Jake Polledri each beat six defenders in round 1, no forward beat more (also Matt Fagerson of Glasgow Warriors)
European Cup Records:
Munster –
2017/18: Reached the semi-finals
2016/17: Reached the semi-finals
2015/16: Failed to qualify from Pool 4
2014/15: Failed to qualify from Pool 1
2013/14: Reached the semi-finals
2012/13: Reached the semi-finals
2011/12: Reached the quarter-finals
2010/11: Failed to qualify from Pool 3
2009/10: Reached the semi-finals
2008/09: Reached the semi-finals
2007/08: Champions
2006/07: Reached the quarter-finals
2005/06: Champions
2004/05: Reached the quarter-finals
2003/04: Reached the semi-finals
2002/03: Reached the semi-finals
2001/02: Runners-up
2000/01: Reached the semi-finals
1999/00: Runners-up
1998/99: Reached the quarter-finals
1997/98: Failed to qualify from Pool D
1996/97: Failed to qualify from Pool D
1995/96: Failed to qualify from Pool D
Gloucester –
2013/14: Failed to qualify from Pool 6
2011/12: Failed to qualify from Pool 6
2009/10: Failed to qualify from Pool 2
2008/09: Failed to qualify from Pool 6
2007/08: Reached the quarter-finals
2006/07: Failed to qualify from Pool 2
2004/05: Failed to qualify from Pool 6
2003/04: Reached the quarter-finals
2002/03: Failed to qualify from Pool 2
2000/01: Reached the semi-finals
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