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Gerbrandt Grobler rises high to win another lineout for Gloucester Rugby in the Heineken Champions Cup
Toulouse and Gloucester Rugby will both be going all out for victory in the Heineken Champions Cup Pool 5 clash at Stade Ernest Wallon on Sunday, but for different reasons.
Toulouse have already wrapped up the pool, but require a win to seal a home quarter-final, while Gloucester need a victory to have a chance of joining them in the last eight as one of the three best pool runners-up.
Key facts
- Toulouse are leading 2-1 in their Heineken Champions Cup head-to-head with Gloucester.
- Toulouse are unbeaten in their last eight home games in the competition.
- Gloucester have lost nine of their 12 away games against TOP 14 opposition in the tournament.
- Toulouse have conceded just one second-half try in the Heineken Champions Cup this season, fewer than any other club.
- Gloucester have made the most tackles (811) in the competition this campaign, while Toulouse (540) have made the fewest.
- No player has won more turnovers than Toulouse forward Joe Tekori (7) in this term’s tournament.
- Toulouse back Sofiane Guitoune has made the joint most offloads (13) with Taqele Naiyaravoro, of Northampton Saints.
- Gloucester lock Gerbrandt Grobler has won the most lineouts (34).
📹 VIDEO
With hopes of making the @ChampionsCup quarter-finals still alive, Gloucester Rugby Head Coach Johan Ackermann insists that his team will be focused on their own performance and aren’t just travelling to make up the numbers.
Watch now ▶️
https://t.co/dHUWXtscPG pic.twitter.com/G17nUDp96g— Gloucester Rugby (@gloucesterrugby) January 17, 2020
Toulouse's Romain Ntamack celebrates his first try
Toulouse rounded off the Heineken Champions Cup pool stages with a commanding 35-14 win over Gloucester Rugby, securing a home quarter-final in the process.
It was the in-form Louis Rees-Zammit who gave Gloucester the early lead on four minutes. From the attacking line-out, they worked left and then back right with a kick wide to the young wing and he scooped up before diving over for the opening points.
It took Toulouse a bit of time to get into the game but they got their first try after 15 minutes. It came from a powerful driving maul and as it splintered, Joe Tekori took off and dived over the line.
Toulouse soon clicked into gear with fly-half Romain Ntamack bagging a brace before the break. The first came after some lovely inter-changing passing and after the initial break from Antoine Dupont, play found Ntamack who sprinted clear to score at the posts.
And the second came after another delightful Dupont break and a few phases later, Ntamack bobbed and weaved past three Gloucester defenders for the try.
He can't stop scoring!
You know who – Louis Rees-Zammit gets @gloucesterrugby's bonus-point win hunt off to a flyer 👌#HeinekenChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/XSu9Ob4QZk
— Rugby on BT Sport (@btsportrugby) January 19, 2020
Just before the interval, Jason Woodward showed some resolve from the visitors as he was able to scoot round the Toulouse line and score at the posts, making it 21-14 at the break.
But the hosts dominated in the second half, grabbing a bonus point try when Maxime Medard released Cheslin Kolbe down the left wing and after play was bundled to the ground, they found Julien Marchand who dotted down with ease.
A fifth try soon followed for Toulouse and it was Cyril Baille who delivered the telling blow after the powerful scrum forced penalty advantage once again.
But as Toulouse pushed for the try to clinch the No.2, they were penalised for a forward pass with the clock in the red, meaning they would have to settle for the No.3 seed and a home quarter-final.
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