The Sharks are in London to contest the final of the European Challenge Cup at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Friday when Gloucester provide the opposition.
Gloucester v Sharks, Friday 24th May, Tottenham, KO 21:00 (South African time)
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)
Assistant referees: Andrew Brace (Ireland), Pierre Brousset (France)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (Franne)
Weather Forecast – Tottenham Stadium
Gloucester:
Two time winners Gloucester booked their place in a fifth Challange Cup final when they ran out 40-23 winners over Benetton in a home semi. They led 15-11 at half time and maintained daylight on the scoreboard, eventually scoring 5 tries to 3. In the quarter finals Gloucester were 23-13 winners at home to the Ospreys whilst in the Ro16 they beat Castres 30-25 in another home fixture.
Gloucester also beat Castres (35-5) in the pool stage to come through with a 100% record after earlier wins away to Black Lion (15-10), at home to Clermont (28-17) and in Edinburgh (21-20).
Gloucester managed just 5 wins, alongside 13 defeats in the Gallagher Premiership season and finished second from bottom but their form did pick up on the back of their Challenge Cup run.
Sharks:
The Sharks booked their place in the final with a 32-31 victory over Clermont in the semi's in Durban. Siya Masuku kicked 22 of those points as the Sharks came from 28-18 down at half time to become the first SA side to reach an EPCR final. The Sharks also recorded a 36-30 victory over Edinburgh in Durban in the quarters whilst in the Round of 16 they thrashed Zebre Parma 47-3, also at Kings Park.
The Sharks topped their pool with 3 wins and 1 defeat. The loss came in a derby with the Cheetahs (32-29 in Bloem) whilst they registered wins at home to Section Paloise (45-5) and Oyonnax (38-7) and away to the Dragons (29-3).
The Sharks early form in the URC was disastrous and they have won just 4 of their 17 URC matches but their main focus has been the Challenge Cup for some time.
Team News
Gloucester: 15 Santi Carreras, 14 Jonny May, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Seb Atkinson, 11 Ollie Thorley, 10 Adam Hastings, 9 Caolan Englefield, 8 Zach Mercer, 7 Lewis Ludlow (c), 6 Ruan Ackermann, 5 Arthur Clark, 4 Freddie Clarke, 3 Fraser Balmain, 2 Seb Blake, 1 Jamal Ford-Robinson
Replacements: 16 Santi Socino, 17 Mayco Vivas, 18 Kirill Gotovtsev, 19 Albert Tuisue, 20 Jack Clement, 21 Stephen Varney, 22 Max Llewellyn, 23 Josh Hathaway
Sharks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Werner Kok, 13 Ethan Hooker, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Siya Masuku, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Phepsi Buthelezi, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 James Venter, 5 Gerbrandt Grobler, 4 Eben Etzebeth (c), 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche
Replacements: 16 Fez Mbatha, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Hanro Jacobs, 19 Lappies Labuschagne, 20 Dylan Richardson, 21 Cameron Wright, 22 Curwin Bosch, 23 Eduan Keyter
The Betting
Gloucester +2.5 points at 9/10
Sharks -2.5 points at 9/10
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
Betting Angle
The handicap for this game has been stable and it looks a tough game to call. On paper the Sharks look stronger but they have disappointed so many times this season.
I find myself leaning to the points markets where I fancy we could get points. The Sharks 3 playoff games starting with their last 16 clash have had 50, 66 and 63 points respectively and Gloucesters totals have been 55, 36 and 63.
Conditions look good and while I understand it is a final I think we get points.
BET: 5 units over 48.5 points at 10/11 at WSB*
*Click hereto open your WSB account
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
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