European Cup Rugby Preview – 7.45 pm kick off
The domestic Premiership action takes a break this week as the focus shifts back to the pool stage of the European Rugby Champions Cup. We are getting out the business end of things as well now as we go into matchday five. This is a big one in Pool 2 with Gloucester needing a win to try and reel in leaders Munster.
Gloucester v Munster odds*
Munster 4/9
Gloucester 15/8
Draw 20/1
* (betting odds taken from bet365 on December 20th, 2019 at 5:00 pm)
Table of Contents
Gloucester v Munster Preview
It is all tight in Pool 2 with Gloucester sitting bottom, just the four points behind leaders Munster. So a win for the Cherry & Whites in this one would change everything and leave things wide open for the final round of matches. When the two met back in October out at Thomond Park, Munster took a 36-22 win over Gloucester. The Irish side got a bonus point in the process.
This should be some battle because Gloucester will know that defeat is going to leave them out of the qualification picture. So they have to throw the kitchen sink at this one. In their two home games in the Pool, they beat France side Casters but then lost at home against the Exeter Chiefs in the last round, giving up a bonus point to their English counterparts.
But what could give them a bit of hope is that Munster lost in round four as well as they paid a visit to Castres. The French side managed to keep the Irish side off the try scoresheet as well. In their other away game in the Pool Munster played out a tense 10-10 draw at Exeter. There have been only the two away victories in this group.
So there is a window of opportunity here for Gloucester. The Gloucestershire club though are going to have to break some new ground here though. They have lost their four previous games against Munster and have managed only the ten points in their two previous home games against the Irish side. But this will be the first meeting between the two clubs since January 2014.
Gloucester v Munster Prediction
Don’t expect either to go down without a fight in his one. This should be good and it is likely going to be tight and tense under the circumstance. Gloucester are a handy side and Kingsholm is never an easy place for an opponent to visit. A Gloucester +5 handicap at 10/11 odds looks a solid fit* (betting odds taken from bet365 on December 20th, 2019 at 5:00 pm)
