First of all let's get the complicated bit out of the way, how teams can qualify. This is what will happen according to the official ERC website.

The six Pool winners will be joined in the quarter-finals by the two best runners-up. In the event of teams - be it two or three - in the same Pool being level on match points the Pool winners and rankings will be determined after taking into account THE RESULTS OF ONLY THOSE MATCHES BETWEEN THE TIED TEAMS (i. match points; ii. tries scored; iii. points difference).

The two best placed runners-up will be determined by the following criteria:

i. Match Points;

ii. Tries scored in all Pool matches;

iii. Points difference in all Pool matches;

iv. Fewest number of players sent off in Pool matches;

v. The toss of a coin.

Please note that no more than two teams can qualify from any one Pool.

The eight qualifiers will be ranked by the above criteria and the draw for the quarterfinals will be:

TEAM 1 v TEAM 8

TEAM 2 v TEAM 7

TEAM 3 v TEAM 6

TEAM 4 v TEAM 5

POOL 2

Otherwise, the key to winning this Pool will be the try count and points difference. If Munster win, Perpignan lose or draw and Gloucester and Munster are level on eight points, then the Pool winners will be determined on the basis of the results from the two fixtures between the sides.

In Round 1, Gloucester beat Munster 35-16 at Kingsholm and 4-1 on tries. It means that to top Gloucester in the two fixtures, Munster must win with three more tries than Gloucester and by 20 points or by four more tries.

For three teams to end on eight points Munster must beat Gloucester and Perpignan must beat Viadana. If that happens then the results and try counts of matches between those three teams will be taken into consideration.

This is how the three teams currently stand against each other:

Gloucester (3 matches to date) Tries - 9   For - 91        Against - 63 ( + 28)

Munster (3 matches to date)           Tries - 5      For - 54        Against - 79 ( - 25)

Perpignan (4 matches played)          Tries - 11    For - 91        Against - 94 ( - 3)

Gloucester can still come out on top with eight points if they lose in Munster. For that to happen they would have to score three tries to overtake Perpignan's 11 and hope Munster don't beat them by scoring seven or more tries.

For Munster to win the Pool, and reach the last eight for the fifth successive season, they have to beat Gloucester scoring seven tries and restricting the English side to no more than two tries.

They could also win the Pool by beating Gloucester, stopping them from scoring more than one try, scoring six tries themselves and winning by a margin of 23 points or more. Six tries would take them level with Perpignan on 11 and the 23 points would make up the difference in points aggregate between the two teams (Munster -25 and Perpignan -3).

Perpignan will win the Pool if they beat Viadana and Munster beat Gloucester by fewer than six tries. The best second placed team could finish on eight points - Gloucester, Munster or Perpignan.

FIXTURES

SATURDAY, 18 JANUARY

Viadana v Perpignan (Tele +)   1500   Roy Maybank (E)     

Munster v Gloucester (RTE / BBC)  1445   Joel Jutge (F)

 

Right, now to the preview! Definitely the biggest match Gloucester have had since the joyous day at Twickenham at the end of last season, and possibly even bigger. The allocation of tickets for Gloucester sold out in a matter of hours, leaving many fans extremely disappointed. It is reported that 2000 Gloucester fans will travel with tickets, and possible another 1000 without. Tickets on the black market have been reportedly selling for around £200.

With weather conditions looking like they could be poor, it could definitely be a forwards game. And no team in the whole of Europe is as good at sticking the ball under there jumpers then Gloucester. The unfortunate truth is that Munster are probably the second best!

This is the sort of game which opens up the future for club rugby. Never in football will a match be so eagerly awaited and so tense from beginning to end. The was proven last year when tickets went quicker for the Heineken Cup then they did for the FA Cup final at the same venue.

Injury worries for Gloucester tend to be in the backs, with James Simpson-Daniel having to take late fitness tests for a sore ankle, and Marcel Garvey also a doubt. The only other worry is Phil Vickery, who has a stomach upset, but he should be fine.

Munster have announced their squad for the match.

Munster Squad:

Backs: Jeremy Staunton, Killian Keane, John Kelly, Jason Holland, Mike Mullins, Mossie Lawlor, Colm McMahon, Dom Malone, Mike Prendergast, Peter Stringer, Ronan O’Gara

Forwards: Marcus Horan, Martin Cahill, James Blaney, Frank Sheahan, John Hayes, Mick O’Driscoll, Mick Galwey Donncha O’Callaghan, Denis Leamy, Eddie Halvey, Jim Williams, Alan Quinlan, Anthony Foley

Now the atmosphere wont just be brilliant at Thormond Park, where Munster haven't lost a European match. The whole of the city will be behind the Cherry-and-Whites, and eager fans who have not been able to make the trip, will crowd around TV's in the clubhouse, various city pubs and in the comfort of their own home. Let's see if we can recreate the Thormond Park atmosphere for ourselves.

There is only really one thing for sure in this match (even after the game we'll still probably be baffled as to who's qualified and who we'll be playing). The whole of Gloucester will be behind the Cherry-and-Whites.

Come on Glaws!!!!!!