Challenge Cup quarter-final match pack preview: Gloucester Rugby v Connacht Rugby
Below is a comprehensive match pack preview of Friday’s European Rugby Challenge Cup quarter-final between Gloucester Rugby and Connacht Rugby including in-depth statistical information.
Gloucester Rugby v Connacht Rugby
Friday, 3 April
Kick-off: 19:45, Kingsholm Stadium
Referee: Romain Poite (Fra)
Assistant Referee 1: Cedric Marchat (Fra)
Assistant Referee 2: Thomas Charabas (Fra)
TMO: Gareth Simmonds (Wal)
Citing Commissioner: John Montgomery (Sco)
TV: Sky Sports / beIN SPORTS
Match facts
No 1 seeds Gloucester conceded fewer points and tries than any other team in the pool stage of this season’s Challenge Cup.
In the pool stage, Connacht’s points difference in the 20 minute period after half time was -28; only Rovigo and Bucharest had a worse record.
Gloucester have won both previous meetings with Connacht in their Heineken Cup pool stage games in 2011.
Gloucester have been knocked out in the quarter-finals of the Challenge Cup on the last three occasions they have reached the knockout stage: 2010, 2013 and 2014.
Connacht have lost 11 of their last 12 games in European competition against English opposition.
Gloucester have lost just two of their last 15 home Challenge Cup games with both defeats coming against French opposition.
The Dragons’ Hallam Amos (12) was the only player to make more clean breaks than Connacht’s Matt Healy (11) in the pool stage of this season’s competition.
Gloucester have the only 100% record in European tournaments this season.
Gloucester openside Matt Kvesic won a competition-high 10 turnovers in the pool stage.