Hosting Gloucester at a packed Sportsground, Connacht will put their unbeaten record in this season’s Challenge Cup on the line as they bid to qualify for their first European semi-final since 2010.
EUROPEAN CHALLENGE CUP QUARTER-FINAL: Saturday, March 31
CONNACHT (1st, Pool 5) v GLOUCESTER (2nd, Pool 3), the Sportsground, 1pm (live BT Sport 3/beIN Sports/Galway Bay FM/highlights TG4)
Team News: Grand Slam winners Bundee Aki and Kieran Marmion have returned to the Connacht starting XV to face Gloucester in the Saturday’s Challenge Cup quarter-final at the Sportsground.
It is set to be a fitting homecoming for Ireland’s Aki and Marmion, along with fellow internationals Quinn Roux and Ultan Dillane, as the Six Nations and Triple Crown trophies will be displayed to the crowd in Galway tomorrow.
The much-anticipated European game will mark a significant milestone for Jack Carty and Dave Heffernan as both are poised to make their 100th appearances for their province. Roscommon man Carty starts at out-half alongside Marmion, while Ballina native Heffernan is named as replacement hooker.
Aki’s return sees him renew his centre partnership with Tom Farrell. The pair are included in a back-line that features an unchanged back-three of Tiernan O’Halloran, Niyi Adeolokun and Matt Healy. With eight tries so far in the tournament, flying winger Healy has been in incredible form.
Speaking ahead of the clash with the English side, Connacht head coach Kieran Keane said: “We have had a really close look at Gloucester and how they have been playing. I think they have a very similar approach to the game as we do, so it’s going to be a tough game for both sides and both teams will fancy their chances.
“The home advantage will be big for us. Our supporters have been fantastic this season and have made the Sportsground a really difficult place to travel for away teams. I know they will give us another lift again tomorrow and the boys are determined to give them something to shout about.”
Meanwhile, John Afoa will become Gloucester’s latest centurion when he takes to the pitch in Galway, with Ben Morgan and Ross Moriarty both recalled to the back row.
Former All Black Afoa has been the epitome of durability for the Cherry and Whites since his arrival from Ulster in 2014. He will make his 100th competitive appearance for Gloucester at the Sportsground, while flanker Moriarty will make his first appearance for Gloucester since January’s pool match against Pau. His recall is one of six changes to the side that beat London Irish 33-29 last weekend.
There is only one change in the back-line, Wales international Owen Williams getting the nod at out-half with Billy Burns named among the replacements.
Up front, Val Rapava Ruskin will start at loosehead prop and there is a new-look second pairing in Ed Slater and Jeremy Thrush. Morgan and Moriarty will join Lewis Ludlow in the visitors’ back row.
Only winger Charlie Sharples and outside centre Henry Trinder remain from the Gloucester team that won 14-10 at Connacht the last time the Cherry and Whites played at the Sportsground back in December 2011.
CONNACHT: Tiernan O’Halloran; Niyi Adeolokun, Bundee Aki, Tom Farrell, Matt Healy; Jack Carty, Kieran Marmion; Denis Buckley, Tom McCartney, Finlay Bealham, Gavin Thornbury, Quinn Roux, Eoin McKeon, Jarrad Butler, John Muldoon (capt).
Replacements: Dave Heffernan, Peter McCabe, Conor Carey, Ultan Dillane, Eoghan Masterson, Caolin Blade, Craig Ronaldson, Darragh Leader.
GLOUCESTER: Jason Woodward; Charlie Sharples, Henry Trinder, Mark Atkinson, Tom Marshall; Owen Williams, Willi Heinz (capt); Val Rapava Ruskin, James Hanson, John Afoa, Ed Slater, Jeremy Thrush, Ross Moriarty, Lewis Ludlow, Ben Morgan.
Replacements: Motu Matu’u, Josh Hohneck, Fraser Balmain, Tom Savage, Ruan Ackermann, Callum Braley, Billy Burns, Billy Twelvetrees.
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
Assistant Referees: Pierre Brousset, Vincent Blasco Baqué (both France)
Television Match Official: Neil Hennessy (Wales)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Connacht to win: 4/7; Draw: 18/1; Gloucester to win: 6/4
Pre-Match Quotes: Denis Buckley (Connacht) – “It’s a make-or-break week for our season. We’ve pinpointed Gloucester in a Challenge Cup quarter-final as a big game for Connacht. The international guys are back for us all week in training and we’re ready to go for a huge day in the Sportsground.
“I have scrummaged against John Afoa a good few times. He is one of the best around. He played for Ulster and we played Gloucester a couple of times when he was there. I scrummaged against him when there was a play-off over there in Kingsholm (in 2015). He is obviously a top scrummager and we are going to have to be at our very best to try and get after their scrum.
“Gloucester are dangerous. They are really good at the unstructured counter-attack rugby. Like most of the teams in the Premiership they have a very physical pack. You are going to have to sort out their set piece first and foremost.
“After that you just have to be really careful in the broken-field play that you don’t give them opportunities, your defence is switched on all of the time. You don’t want to get isolated against some of their runners. They have shown in the Premiership this year they are willing to go from anywhere, and they have scored some good tries. It’s about controlling them a bit in terms of that.
“We just have to win and there is not much more to it. We have to find a way but I am confident that we will. The analysis that we have done and preparation, you can tell there is a real focus around the place. There is a bit of pressure on us, but that pressure is good for us and hopefully it will help us to get a good result.”
Johan Ackermann (Gloucester) – “You can’t read too much into Connacht’s result against Edinburgh last week because they’re probably out of that competition and maybe the focus wasn’t there. But this is a big chance for them to do well in a highly-rated competition.
“They’re at home and they will be highly motivated. We have the likes of David Humphreys, Jonny Bell and Richard Hibbard, who have played a lot of games there in the past and have told us that it’s a tough place to go to, the weather can change quickly and the crowd is quite verbal.
“If you look at them as a team, they have got quality players who like to keep the ball and play an attacking brand and counter-attack. They’re also quite physical up front and we will have to look at that. So we will be tested, it will be a tough challenge.”
Current Form – Connacht – (GUINNESS PRO14): Lost 18-12 v Glasgow Warriors (home), Won 32-10 v Southern Kings (home), Lost 21-8 v Dragons (away), Lost 17-15 v Cardiff Blues (home), Lost 36-27 v Scarlets (away), Lost 16-8 v Ulster (away); (Challenge Cup): Won 43-15 v Oyonnax (away), Won 15-8 v Worcester Warriors (home); (GUINNESS PRO14): Won 20-16 v Munster (home), Won 23-15 v Toyota Cheetahs (home), Lost 36-30 v Cardiff Blues (away), Lost 24-10 v Zebre (away); (Challenge Cup): Won 38-31 v Brive (away), Won 55-10 v Brive (home); (GUINNESS PRO14): Won 44-16 v Ulster (home), Lost 21-18 v Leinster (away), Lost 39-13 v Munster (away); (Challenge Cup): Drew 24-24 v Worcester Warriors (away), Won 50-14 v Oyonnax (home); (GUINNESS PRO14): Won 26-15 v Ospreys (home), Lost 19-11 v Zebre (home), Won 22-19 v Benetton Rugby (away), Lost 26-25 v Toyota Cheetahs (away), Lost 29-22 v Edinburgh (home)
Gloucester – (Aviva Premiership): Won 28-21 v Exeter Chiefs (home), Lost 28-17 v Harlequins (away), Lost 24-10 v Leicester Tigers (away), Won 24-19 v Worcester Warriors (home), Lost 57-10 v Sale Sharks (away), Won 29-24 v Northampton Saints (home); (Challenge Cup): Lost 27-21 v Pau (away), Won 61-16 v Agen (home); (Aviva Premiership): Won 22-21 v Bath (away); (Anglo-Welsh Cup): Lost 26-24 v Leicester Tigers (away), Won 47-7 v London Irish (home); (Aviva Premiership): Won 23-17 v Saracens (home), Won 29-7 v Newcastle Falcons (away), Won 39-15 v London Irish (home); (Challenge Cup): Won 33-26 v Zebre (away), Won 69-12 v Zebre (home); (Aviva Premiership): Lost 49-24 v Wasps (away), Won 20-16 v Sale Sharks (home), Lost 22-19 v Northampton Saints (away); (Challenge Cup): Won 45-24 v Agen (away), Lost 34-24 v Pau (home); (Anglo-Welsh Cup): Won 43-20 v Ospreys (home), Lost 31-19 v Newcastle Falcons (away); (Aviva Premiership): Won 24-17 v Leicester Tigers (home), Lost 25-15 v Worcester Warriors (away), Drew 25-25 v Wasps (home), Lost 21-20 v Newcastle Falcons (home), Won 33-29 v London Irish (away)
Top Scorers – 2017/18 European Challenge Cup: Connacht – Points: Jack Carty 53; Tries: Matt Healy 8; Gloucester – Points: Owen Williams 45; Tries: Ollie Thorley 6
Previous European Meetings: 4
Sunday, May 24, 2015 – Champions Cup Qualification Play-Off – Gloucester 40 Connacht 32, Kingsholm
Friday, April 3, 2015 – Challenge Cup Quarter-Final – Gloucester 14 Connacht 7, Kingsholm
Saturday, December 17, 2011 – Heineken Cup Pool 6 – Gloucester 23 Connacht 19, Kingsholm
Saturday, December 10, 2011 – Heineken Cup Pool 6 – Connacht 10 Gloucester 14, the Sportsground
Match Facts –
– This will be the second meeting between the teams in the Challenge Cup and their fifth overall in Europe. Gloucester have won all four previous matches, including the Champions Cup qualification play-off at Kingsholm almost three years ago
– The three fixtures between the sides in Europe pool matches and quarter-finals have seen an average aggregate points total of 29 points per game
– This is the third time Connacht have reached the quarter-finals in their last three attempts, losing to eventual winners Gloucester in 2015 and Grenoble in 2016
– Two-time champions Gloucester have progressed from the pool stages in each of their last five Challenge Cup campaigns, losing in the quarter-finals (twice) and reaching the final (twice)
– Connacht, ranked number three after the pool stages, have won nine of their last 10 home matches in the Challenge Cup, only losing to Exeter Chiefs in that time
Challenge Cup Records:
Connacht –
2015/16: Reached the quarter-finals
2014/15: Reached the quarter-finals
2010/11: Failed to qualify from Pool 1
2009/10: Reached the semi-finals
2008/09: Reached the quarter-finals
2007/08: Failed to qualify from Pool 3
2006/07: Failed to qualify from Pool 4
2005/06: Reached the quarter-finals
2004/05: Reached the semi-finals
2003/04: Reached the semi-finals
2002/03: Reached the quarter-finals
2001/02: Failed to qualify from Pool 4
2000/01: Failed to qualify from Pool 2
1999/00: Failed to qualify from Pool 4
1998/99: Failed to qualify from Pool 1
1997/98: Failed to qualify from Pool 4
1996/97: Failed to qualify from Pool 3
Gloucester –
2016/17: Runners-up
2015/16: Reached the quarter-finals
2014/15: Champions
2013/14: Reached the quarter-finals
2012/13: Reached the quarter-finals
2010/11: Failed to qualify from Pool 5
2009/10: Reached the quarter-finals
2005/06: Champions
2001/02: Reached the semi-finals
1999/00: Failed to qualify from Pool 5
1997/98: Reached the quarter-finals
1996/97: Failed to qualify from Pool 4
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