By Cherry Picker
May 1 2015

The European Challenge Cup final is Gloucester's biggest game of the season - even David Humphreys says that. So no pressure then!

The kindest thing we can say about the season so far is that it has been one of transition. With two games to go we are 9th in the Premiership and with little prospect of improving on that even though we will only suffer a  suspended two-point deduction for fielding an incorrectly registered player in a Premiership match.

Mariano Galarza, 28, did not hold proper registration when selected for the 23-6 defeat at Sale on 29 March. However, an independent panel said the breach was an "administrative error" and not done to gain a competitive advantage.

So we are already looking to next season, and how much better it would be for any further recruitment if we could say to players come  and join us and play European Championship rugby.

Edinburgh stand in our way and they will provide tough opposition at The Stoop.

Naturally we have got our strongest  team out with the half back pairing of Hook and Laidlaw restored. Big game - big game players selected so Hibbard is in the front row and Palmer and Savage in the second row.

We really should be strong enough to win this one given the fire power of our backs.

Gloucs: Charlie Sharples; Jonny May, Bill Meakes, Billy Twelvetrees (captain), Henry Purdy; James Hook, Greig Laidlaw; Nick Wood, Richard Hibbard, John Afoa; Tom Savage, Tom Palmer; Ross Moriarty, Matt Kvesic, Gareth Evans

Reps: Darren Dawidiuk, Yann Thomas, Sila Puafisi, Mariano Galarza, Jacob Rowan, Dan Robson, Billy Burns, Steve McColl

Edinburgh come in to the game having hammered  Zebre in the Guinness PRO12 last weekend and they make two changes.

Greig Tonks is at full-back after returning from injury with skipper Mike Coman at blindside fso that Cornell Du Preez can come in at No 8..

They also have  the competition’s highest points scorer Sam Hidalgo-Clyne  at scrum-half.

Edinburgh:  Greig Tonks: Dougie Fife, Sam Beard, Andries Strauss, Tim Visser;  Phil Burleigh,   Sam Hidalgo-Clyne; Alasdair Dickinson, Ross Ford, WP Nel, Anton Bresler, 5 Ben Toolis; 6 Mike Coman (captain),  Roddy Grant, Cornell Du Preez.

Reps:  Stuart McInally, Rory Sutherland, John Andress,  Fraser McKenzie,  Hamish Watson,  Nathan Fowles,  Tom Heathcote,  Tom Brown.

All Or Nothing

Discussion started by Shedloads (IP Logged), 01/05/2015 10:19

Shedloads
01/05/2015 10:19

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