Win would shed light on Munster's season

Gloucester v Munster: A heavyweight Anglo-Irish affair and match of the weekend, today's first of pivotal back-to-back meetings between Gloucester and Munster will go some way toward deciding the winners of Pool Five. All the ingredients are there. It has history and needle, indeed more spice than you'd find in Jamie Oliver's kitchen.

With Sky doing their best for the Gloucester cause, Kingsholm's famous shed will be whipped up into a fair old frenzy by Phil Vickery (thankfully absent) parading the Webb Ellis Trophy before kick-off.

Gloucester will feel they owe Munster big-time for the unforgettable events of Thomond Park a year ago, Munster owe themselves a performance for what happened to them at Kingsholm prior to that, and Ronan O'Gara might feel he owes Duncan "Rocky" McRae 11 (the number of punches he landed on O'Gara in the New South Wales-Lions fixture 18 months ago).

Of course all parties consign past meetings to history and maintain they have no relevance. Which is, of course, standard pre-match balderdash. McRae reiterated his regret for his assault on O'Gara again this week on Sky's Rugby Club, and based on his knowledge of the player for 15 years, Alan Gaffney believes McRae is genuine. But it's hard not be a tad cynical about how he has come over all contrite as this match has neared.

Not that O'Gara or his team-mates can become too distracted by notions of even legitimate targeting of McRae. Besides, the Aussie outhalf is liable to feel the heat a good deal more in Thomond Park next week.

It's likely Gloucester's sense of vengeance will come first, given the Thomond Park meeting was simply the most recent. That four-try, 27-point defeat, which cost Gloucester their place in the quarter-finals, scarred them for the season. The Cherry and Whites will come out steaming, and this will most definitely be Munster's severest defensive test of the season to date.

First and foremost, Munster will have to make their first-up tackles count. If Gloucester get in behind them, they're lethal. A year ago, Munster failed the test. They were dragged from touchline to touchline until the interval, somehow remaining within a score of the then runaway English Premiership leaders, but then for variety Gloucester started attacking through the middle as well and carved Gaffney's men apart.

"That was our worst defeat of the year, certainly our most humbling defeat," concedes Gaffney. "We possibly played worse in Perpignan but we were totally outplayed that day in Kingsholm and we'd like to rectify that."

Had this game taken place prior to Christmas, or without the contrasting festive interruptions, it's hard not to think Munster would be better placed now.

Instead, whereas they've had players away on more national camps and a dogfight with Connacht, Gloucester have been playing regularly and have hit form. "We're probably a game or two away from our best," admits the Munster coach.

Gloucester come into this one buoyed by their win away to Leicester and remain one of the most effective sides around at switching the point of attack from wing to wing. McRae and Henry Paul supply the gamebreaking, Terry Fanolua's strong midfield running is restored, and out wide Marcel Garvey and the lethal James Simpson-Daniel supply the cutting edge.

In this aspect, they do indeed seem to have an edge. But with the O'Connell-O'Callaghan daredevils in prime nick, Munster are better equipped with mobility up front to cope with another high-paced game. With setpieces hopefully just as sound, they should stay in touch, and if it becomes tight then there's hope, for Gloucester looked nervous near the winning post last week and, though Gaffney cites McRae's offensive kicking, he wouldn't have O'Gara's tactical range.

It may be one of those games where Rob Henderson, Mike Mullins and Shaun Payne, an intriguing selection at full back, will have to give Munster something extra to get them over the winning post.

It would constitute the result of the tournament so far, but bearing in mind the pool looks like being decided between these two, staying within seven points could ultimately be critical.

GLOUCESTER: Jon Goodridge; Marcel Garvey, Terry Fanolua, Henry Paul, James Simpson-Daniel; Duncan McRae, Andy Gomarsall; Trevor Woodman, Chris Collins, Andy Deacon, Alex Brown, Mark Cornwell, Jake Boer, Junior Paramore, Peter Buxton. Replacements: R Elloway, P Johnstone, R Roncero, A Eustace, J Merriman, A Page, R Todd.

MUNSTER: Shaun Payne; John Kelly, Mike Mullins, Rob Henderson, Anthony Horgan; Ronan O'Gara, Peter Stringer; Marcus Horan, Frank Sheahan, John Hayes, Donncha O'Callaghan, Paul O'Connell, Jim Williams (capt), Anthony Foley, David Wallace. Replacements: J Blaney, G McIlwham, D Pusey, S Keogh, E Reddan, J Staunton, J Holland.

Referee: Nigel Williams (Wales).

Previous meetings: (2002-3) Gloucester 35 Munster 16, Munster 33 Gloucester 6.

Formguide: Gloucester - 33-12 v Benetton Treviso (away), 49-13 v Bourgoin (home). Munster - 18-17 v Bourgoin (away), 51-0 v Benetton Treviso (home).

Leading scorers: Gloucester - Henry Paul 37. Munster - Ronan O'Gara 29.

Leading try scorers: Gloucester - James Simpson-Daniel 3, Adam Eustace, Junior Paramore 2 each. Munster - Anthony Foley, Jason Holland 2 each.

Betting (Paddy Powers): 4/6 Gloucester, 22/1 draw, 6/5 Munster. Handicap odds: (= Munster +4pts) 10/11 Gloucester, 20/1 Draw, 10/11 Munster.

Forecast: Gloucester to win.