Munster vs Gloucester Prediction: Cherry & Whites won’t be embarrassed

A daunting challenge awaits Gloucester on Saturday (17:30 GMT, Premier Sports 1) as they get set to face Munster at Thomond Park in the European Rugby Champions Cup.

Below are my Munster vs Gloucester predictions, as well as all the essential team news and match odds for the encounter in Limerick.

Team News

Gavin Coombes, Jack O’Donoghue and Tom Ahern start in the front row for Munster, with skipper Tadhg Beirne and Jean Kleyn in the second row.

Michael Ala’alatoa, Niall Scannell and Michael Milne make up the back row, with Craig Casey and Jack Crowley combining in the half-backs.

In the centres, Munster go with Alex Nankivell and Dan Kelly, while the hosts have a back three of Ben O’Connor, Shane Daly and Mike Haley.

As for the visitors, Gloucester have Dian Bleuler, Jack Innard and Jamal Ford-Robinson in the front row, with Cam Jordan and skipper Arthur Clark in the engine room.

Josh Basham, Harry Taylor and Jack Clement complete the pack, while Mike Austin and Charlie Atkinson get the green light in the half-backs.

Max Knight and Will Knight start in the centres, with the visitors going for a back three of Rob Russell, Josh Hathaway and George Barton.

Munster vs Gloucester Odds

Munster are the overwhelming favourites at 1/80 for the win on Saturday, while Gloucester are 14/1 to head back across the Irish Sea with a shock victory.

A draw is available at 28/1, while Gloucester, with a +13.5 first-half handicap, are 5/6.

Gloucester +24 handicap @ 6/5

With home advantage and given the quality at their disposal, Munster should win this game on their own patch.

Crowley, back in the No.10 jersey, is a big boost for the Red Army after he was sorely missed in their Champions Cup opener against Bath.

Munster suffered a 40-14 defeat in that game, with Bath showing how to get after the Irish province with an impressive first-half display at the Recreation Ground.

Bath scored 35 points in that first half, and Gloucester will be hoping they can try and put pressure on Munster from the off, to at least try to knock the hosts off their stride at Thomond Park.

Munster go into Saturday’s game on the back of defeats to both the Stormers and Bath in their last two games, which should give this weakened Gloucester side hope that they can make this weekend’s encounter in Limerick a competitive one.

As mentioned, it’s hard to see Munster slipping up in this game, but given their recent defeats and Gloucester’s upturn in fortunes, including a 34-14 win last time out at home to Castres in the Champions Cup, the Cherry & Whites with a +24 handicap get the thumbs up.

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