Latest
Overview
Season so far
Tournament record
Munster Rugby celebrate a try during their bonus-point win over Gloucester Rugby
Munster Rugby can take a huge step towards the Heineken Champions Cup knockout stages on Friday night if they are able to defeat Gloucester Rugby at Kingsholm Stadium. The Pool 2 encounter is live on BT Sport from 19:45 GMT.
- Munster have won each of their last five meetings with Gloucester, those victories all coming by more than 12 points.
- The Irish province’s last six away games have all been decided by single figure margins, with their record evenly split in that period, winning twice, drawing twice and losing twice.
- Gloucester have won six of their eight European Cup games when hosting Irish opposition (L2), however, their two defeats in that run both came against Munster.
- Munster have stolen 10 lineouts this season, more than any other side after four rounds of action.
- Munster’s Peter O’Mahony has stole five lineouts this season, more than any other player and one more than former Munster and current Gloucester forward Gerbrandt Grobler.
🎥 PRESS PASS | Hear from Munster Head Coach Johann van Graan, captain Peter O’Mahony and full-back Mike Haley ahead of Friday’s Champions Cup clash against Gloucester at Kingsholm (7.45pm).
Watch > > https://t.co/77LoZLYMlY#GLOvMUN #SUAF 🔴 pic.twitter.com/VeSZRvRGE5
— Munster Rugby (@Munsterrugby) January 9, 2019
Munster Rugby fly-half Joey Carbery
Munster Rugby fly-half Joey Carbery scored 26 points as the Irish province tightened their grip on Heineken Champions Cup Pool 2 after a 41-15 bonus point win over Gloucester Rugby at Kingsholm Stadium.
The visitors were penalised early on inside their own half, giving Gloucester a kickable penalty that Billy Twelvetrees would have no problem slotting between the sticks.
Lewis Ludlow then strayed offside when Munster were driving inside the Gloucester 22, giving Heineken Man of the Match Joey Carbery a simple penalty kick to level the scores and they would go further in front minutes later.
Munster piled on the pressure after a string of phases, with Conor Murray eventually finding his half-back partner Carbery for the first try of the evening at the posts. The try-scorer duly converted his score.
Seconds later, Munster won another penalty in kicking range and that man Carbery again was able to drill the ball between the sticks in what was a near-perfect display.
After 20+ phases with the clock in the Red, Munster land a hammer blow!
Rory Scannell caps off a great first half for the visitors 👊 pic.twitter.com/sfn8nHc4es
— Rugby on BT Sport (@btsportrugby) January 11, 2019
With the clock deep in the red at the end of the first half and over 25 phases played, Munster secured a second try. It was a continuous wave of blue heading towards the Gloucester line and Rory Scannell eventually bounced off his man and dived over for a crucial score.
Munster came out in similar form at the start of the second half but it was Gloucester that grabbed the first points of the second period.
Over 35 phases from the forwards allowed Danny Cipriani to spread the ball wide, reaching Ollie Thorley who sprinted to the corner for the first Gloucester try, that wasn’t converted by Twelvetrees who hit the post.
🔥 Beautiful kick
👌 Beautiful interceptionJoey Carbery is the man of the moment 👏
A devastating couple of minutes! pic.twitter.com/M8IFep63PG
— Rugby on BT Sport (@btsportrugby) January 11, 2019
That was as good as it got for Gloucester – despite a Fraser Balmain consolation try – who were overwhelmed for the remainder of the second half.
A Billy Holland offload allowed Keith Earls the chance to dot down at the corner, while Carbery would then set up a try for Andrew Conway and score one of his own after a delightful intercept inside his own half, bringing up the crucial bonus point.
Munster – who sit top of Pool 2 with 17 points – host Exeter Chiefs in Round 6 while Gloucester will travel to face Castres Olympique.
LIVE - TEST - Commentary