Can Gloucester stun Munster?

This evening sees Gloucester take on Munster at Pairc Ui Chaoimh in Cork. Could Gloucester pull off a miracle match of their own?

Not the Munster of old but it's still Munster

Having spent the day here in Cork yesterday, I can say that the Munster fans are playing a blinder in talking their chances down. Those I spoke to said they were poor last week, I countered with Bath do that to a lot of teams. I fully expect Munster to give a reaction today, they'll be fired up in front of a Cork crowd who will be fired up too. Yes, they might not have the names of old in Murray and O'Mahony but Munster in Europe are still a special thing.

Expect physicality

A Munster pack containing Ala'alatoa, Klein, Beirne, O'Donoghue and Coombes will bring the physicality. Off the bench expect to see that continuing with Edwin Edogbo who put himself about impressively in defeat at Bath. The Munster backs will be steered by Craig Casey and who will manage the Cork conditions.

I fully expect that the fifteen on the pitch for Munster will stand up and fight.

Gloucester changes

Gloucester unsurprisingly do make changes, some enforced with Tomos Williams having to take a rest and this game being chosen to do so. The front row sees Dian Bleuler, Jack Innard and the returning Jamal Ford-Robinson selected. In the second row there's a return for Arthur Clark who captains the team alongside Cam Jordan. The back row sees Josh Basham, Harry Taylor and the returning Jack Clement.

In the backs there's a start for Mikey Austin at scrum half, he's partnered by Charlie Atkinson. In the centres there's a Champions Cup baptism of fire for Max and Will Knight. I'm sure the brothers will relish this, especially eighteen year old Will. The back three is made up of Rob Russell, the former Leinsterman would love a victory in Cork no doubt. Josh Hathaway returns on the other wing with George Barton at full back offering a second play maker option. On the bench, there's Kealan Freeman-Price, Ciaran Knight and Afo Fasogbon covering the front row, Danny Eite, Hugh Bokenham and Caio James covering the rest of the forwards. The backs are covered by Rhys Price and Jack Cotgreave.

Gloucester to have a go

That forward pack is more than capable of matching Munster, although the likes of Beirne are classy players, I want to see this Gloucester team take it to Munster. Let's see this group be niggly and get in their faces and not take a backwards step. I do think this would've been the perfect game for Lewis Ludlow, he's the heartbeat of the club and we've seen it time and time again, he leads and others follow him into battle. The cauldron of Cork would've been perfect for him. It's up to someone else to lead from the front in that aspect this evening.

Could Gloucester do it?

Who knows if they can take a victory, but if they did imagine how good it would be? They've put in underdog performances in the likes of La Rochelle and Toulouse before, if they do that anything is possible. They'll have to be physical and take the chances when they come and hopefully we see an improved lineout this week!