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Unbeaten Pool 1 pacesetters London Irish and Gloucester clash at the Madejski Stadium on Saturday. - 07/12/2012 10:30
Unbeaten Pool 1 pacesetters London Irish and Gloucester clash at the Madejski Stadium on Saturday.
The Exiles top the group after collecting maximum point hauls in their victories over Bordeaux-Begles and Mont de Marsan.
Gloucester trail their English rivals by just one point, having failed to secure a try bonus point against Mont de Marsan in Round 1.
But the Cherry & Whites have won both previous ties between the clubs in the Amlin Challenge Cup and notched up another victory in the English Premiership earlier this season.
Chris Hala’ufia is availabe after a successful appeal against a five-week suspension for an alleged dangerous tackle.
And Irish will welcome back England internationals Alex Corbisiero, David Paice and Jonathan Joseph and Exiles’ director of rugby Brian Smith reckons their return will be a timely boost.
He said: “We have a lot of international players coming back. The challenge is to get them back into our system very quickly. We need to get them back into the groove.”
Match Facts
• This is the first meeting between two English sides in the Amlin Challenge Cup since April 2011 and the quarter final clash between London Wasps and Harlequins.
• London Irish have lost only once in their last 13 home games in the Amlin Challenge Cup.
• Gloucester have won their two meetings against London Irish in this tournament, one of them in the Amlin Challenge Cup final in 2006 (36-34).
• Gloucester have won their last three away games in this competition.
Freddie Burns was the Gloucester hero as the 22-year-old outside-half steered his side to a 29-22 victory over London Irish at the Madejski Stadium to put the West Country club in the Pool 1 driving seat. - 08/12/2012 16:52
Freddie Burns was the Gloucester hero as the 22-year-old outside-half steered his side to a 29-22 victory over London Irish at the Madejski Stadium to put the West Country club in the Pool 1 driving seat.
With the return tie to come at Kingsholm in Round 4, Gloucester knocked their Premiership rivals off top spot with Burns contributing 24 of their points including a 61st minute try.
Gloucester– who beat London Irish 36-34 in the 2006 Amlin Challenge Cup final – found themselves 13 points adrift when the Irish swooped for two tries in three minutes early in the second half.
Sailosi Tagicakibau had given the home side a dream start with their first try after just two minutes and when Halani Aulika and then Anthony Watson breached the Gloucester defence it looked as if London Irish could go on and make it 13 wins from their last 14 home tournament matches.
But those two strikes galvanised Gloucester into action with replacement prop Dan Murphy taking just six minutes to celebrate coming off the bench with their first try before the Burns show resumed with the No10 in fine form.
His 73rd minute penalty was his fifth of the match and came after he had added both conversions to bank four more points and leave the Irish with just the consolation of a losing bonus point.
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