Glos v Munster Fri 7.45

[fivepointer]

Gloucester: Hudson; Sharples, Twelvetrees, Atkinson, Thorley; Cipriani, Braley; Hohneck, Walker, Balmain; Slater, Grobler; Mostert, Ludlow, Morgan (capt).

Replacements: Marais, Seville, Knight, Clarke, Evans, Vellacott, Williams, Trinder

Munster: Haley; Conway, Farrell, Scannell, Earls; Carbery, Murray; Kilcoyne, Scannell, Archer; Kleyn, Beirne; O'Mahony (capt), O'Donnell, Stander.

Replacements: Marshall, Loughman, Ryan, Holland, Botha, Mathewson, Bleyendaal, Goggin.

[Gloskarlos]

Most people have written us off for this one.

Sell out Friday night crowd and I may just fancy a small upset.

[Mellsblue]

Sweet baby Jebus, what a midfield Glos have there.

[francoisfou]

Most people have written us off for this one.

Sell out Friday night crowd and I may just fancy a small upset.

This has the makings of a cracker and I too think you could sneak a narrow win!! G'wan Glaws!

[fivepointer]

Just wish Glos had a bit of form going into tonight. They've slipped a bit recently and will need to be close to their best to win, i think.
Having Cipriani back is a major boost.
Big night for Ollie Thorley.

[paddy no 11]

This will be a cracker, no one over writing off Gloucester over here Gloskarlos

[Scrumhead]

Player for player, there’s not that much in it IMO.

The back 5 of Munster’s scrum is good and Murray (if he’s fit) is world class, but the rest are nothing particularly special.

[Gloskarlos]

Think Glos have still to achieve a 'sum of their parts being greater than individuals performance' yet, and that is the frustration.

Its a good side considering who we have unavailable for selection, and it IS a sell out - so the atmosphere should be phenomenal.

Hoping its a cracking game.

[twitchy]

I reckon this will be a good game.

[Tigersman]

Glous must be bricking it if Cips gets called up.

[Spiffy]

Munster playing their traditional pack-orientated, hard-nosed game.
Poor old Gloucester FB is having a bit of a mare under Murray's tactical kicking. Probably time to bring him off.

[padprop]

He’s had a big impact but Mostert is a yellow card waiting to happen. Every clear out he does Seems to be a shoulder charge.

[padprop]

Gloucs need a big upgrade on their front row stocks. It’s admirable to have 20 year old second choices but they’ll need better options if they want to challenge.

[p/d]

Munster looking good. Glaws using possession to go backwards........... And then repeat until knock on

Yet another poor advert for prem rugby skills and speed of thought.

[Tigersman]

Outside of Walker I don't even rate their young props TBH.
Ackermann needs to learn that Europe games are won up front not by backs magic. (Something Mauger forgot at Tigers).

Glous needs to invest in a different forwards coach IMO.

[Gloskarlos]

Men against boys.

Hohneck and Balmain have played week in week out for ages with no respite, they are knackered.

Basic errors just adding pressure constantly.

9 is a real problem position for us.

[paddy no 11]

Thought Gloucester be better, the poor form recently was telling

Good luck for the premier

[Timbo]

Gloucs need a big upgrade on their front row stocks. It’s admirable to have 20 year old second choices but they’ll need better options if they want to challenge.

Those aren’t their second choices though, tbf. Ruan Dreyer and VRR, who they’re paying a fortune, have barely featured all season due to injury. Denman and Mcallister, two very experienced Prem props have also missed the entire season to date.

[Timbo]

This game was a microcosm of the difference between the English club teams and the Irish at the moment.

Munster show up for this huge game with virtually their absolute best team on the park (only missing Cloete I think) and all their players have had at least 1 game off rested in the last couple of weeks. They have 5 current internationals in the back line, including 2 test Lions, and 5 current internationals in the pack, including 2 test Lions.

Glos turned up with a front row crisis, a crisis that’s been going on all season, best 2 fb’s out, captain and first choice 9 out. In all probably missing around 8/9 of their best 23. Nobody’s had any rest. Some have been running on fumes for weeks. Lots of very well paid players, although only 2 current internationals in the whole team.

In that context it’s no real surprise it was a mismatch.

[fivepointer]

Plainly there is a big difference in preparation but also in application.
Munster knew exactly what they were about. They know how to contain, limit damage when under pressure and make their chances tell. They looked a very well oiled team.
Glos were mistake riddled throughout, lacking a real punch up front. The attempted driving mauls were appalling.
Bit of a reality check, I'm afraid.
It served as another reminder that to compete with the very best in Europe, our clubs need to have their best players available and to understand that another level of intensity is a basic requirement.

[Oakboy]

Plainly there is a big difference in preparation but also in application.
Munster knew exactly what they were about. They know how to contain, limit damage when under pressure and make their chances tell. They looked a very well oiled team.
Glos were mistake riddled throughout, lacking a real punch up front. The attempted driving mauls were appalling.
Bit of a reality check, I'm afraid.
It served as another reminder that to compete with the very best in Europe, our clubs need to have their best players available and to understand that another level of intensity is a basic requirement.

Excellent assessment of the actual effectiveness of English rugby performance in comparison with Ireland's. I think our game needs to sort out its thinking. With the current system of convoluted play-offs and meaningful fixtures coinciding with international matches, it could be argued that player welfare requires us to withdraw from European competitions.

There is a fundamental conflict of interest between the RFU's ambitions for the game's future and the financial desires of the GP.