Gloucester v Exeter Chiefs: European Challenge Cup semi-final preview
Last Updated: 17/04/15 2:27pm
A Challenge Cup final place is on the line when West Country rivals Gloucester and Exeter Chiefs meet at Kingsholm on Saturday.
Gloucester lifted the Challenge Cup in 2006 and seeking a third final appearance, while the Chiefs are bidding to reach a European decider for the first time.
Exeter were impressive winners over Aviva Premiership leaders Northampton last weekend and Rob Baxter has made one enforced change to his starting line-up.
Ben White hasn’t recovered from a knock to the head so Kai Horstmann takes his place in the back row with Tom Johnson named on the bench.
“A packed out Kingsholm with the conditions like they are now, it should be a fantastic place to go and play a game of rugby,” said Baxter.
“We need to make sure we use that as our motivation and not let it worry us that we’re going away from home. We’ve put in some big performances away from home this season and now we have to back it up and show we’re not afraid to go out and win the game.”
Exeter were 25-22 victors when they visited Kingsholm last September but Gloucester exacted revenge in the return fixture, holding on for a one-point win.
The Cherry and Whites were beaten at Harlequins last weekend and director of rugby David Humphreys makes three changes to his starting line-up.
Henry Purdy comes in on the left wing, with Jonny May moving to the right flank and Charlie Sharples switching to full-back.
Matt Kvesic returns at openside after being rested for the trip to the Stoop, while Mariano Galarza will make his first start for the club after replacing Tom Palmer in the second row.
Gloucester are the only club in Europe with a 100 per cent record and have conceded just one first-half try this season, and Humphreys says his players are up for the challenge of facing one of the “top teams in England”.
"We all want to be involved in big games at Kingsholm,” said the Irishman. “We've talked about this season and how a number of our good performances have been at home and against the top teams in England.
"Exeter fall into that bracket. We know that them coming here is a huge challenge for us, but we've done a huge amount of work throughout the course of the European competition to clinch a home quarter-final and now semi-final.
“History has shown that home advantage is a big part of success in Europe.”
Gloucester: 15 Charlie Sharples, 14 Jonny May, 13 Bill Meakes, 12 Billy Twelvetrees (c), 11 Henry Purdy, 10 James Hook, 9 Greig Laidlaw; 1 Nick Wood, 2 Richard Hibbard, 3 John Afoa, 4 Tom Savage, 5 Mariano Galarza, 6 Sione Kalamafoni, 7 Matt Kvesic, 8 Gareth Evans.
Replacements: 16 Darren Dawidiuk, 17 Dan Murphy, 18 Sila Puafisi, 19 Elliott Stooke, 20 Ross Moriarty, 21 Dan Robson, 22 Billy Burns, 23 Brendan Macken.
Exeter Chiefs: 15 Phil Dollman, 14 Ian Whitten, 13 Jack Nowell, 12 Sam Hill, 11 Matt Jess, 10 Henry Slade, 9 Will Chudley; 1 Ben Moon, 2 Jack Yeandle, 3 Tomas Francis, 4 Dean Mumm (c), 5 Mitch Lees, 6 Dave Ewers, 7 Kai Horstmann, 8 Thomas Waldrom.
Replacements: 16 Elvis Taione, 17 Carl Rimmer, 18 Alex Brown, 19 Sam Skinner, 20 Tom Johnson, 21 Dave Lewis, 22 Gareth Steenson, 23 Tom James.
Watch Gloucester v Exeter Chiefs live on Sky Sports 3 on Saturday from 7pm
