European Rugby Challenge Cup Final - Edinburgh V Gloucester

PREVIEW: Will Sam be the man for Edinburgh?
Sam Hidalgo-Clyne has lit up Scottish rugby this season and spearheaded the Edinburgh Rugby march to their first Challenge Cup final.

Three Heineken Man of the Match awards, and a club European record 28 point haul against Bordeaux-Begles at Murrayfield, have showcased his talent this season and he is set to be a key man in their Edinburgh's push for an historic first professional rugby title at Twickenham Stoop.

As his side's main player maker and goalkicker he is bound to be a target for Gloucester Rugby's players on Friday night and the west country club's director of rugby, David Humphreys, is obviously a fan.

"Sam has become one of the superstars of the game. When you look at how he has performed for Edinburgh in Europe this season he has been outstanding," said Humphreys.

But while the Gloucester back row will be on red alert in the final so, too, will be the Edinburgh side as they try to contain their former team mate Greig Laidlaw. The Scotland skipper has been hugely influential for the Kingsholm team since switching allegiance last summer.

With half-back partner James Hook, and front row recruits John Afoa and Richard Hibbard, he has been able to steer Gloucester into the final without losing. In the final they will attempt to do what Peter Buxton's side of 2006 did and go the full nine games unbeaten.

Gloucester's best form has been saved for Europe this season and the tournament is their only lifeline into next seasons Champions Cup. Win it, and they will go into the play-off for the 20th place, something their meagre ninth place in the Premiership won't offer them.

That will give them extra incentive on the night, although Edinburgh will come into the game with great momentum having demolished Zebre and the Dragons in their last two games. Their added incentive is to become the first Scottish team to win a major trophy - and to beat Glasgow Warriors to the punch!

The big battle is going to be in the front five, where both teams have established sound reputations. Gloucester have the best scrum stats in the Premiership for getting the ball back into play, while the introduction of Aussie-born lock Ben Toolis has added power and agility to the Edinburgh pack. Whoever gets on top at scrum time will have a clear advantage.

Richard Hibbard v Ross Ford at hooker will be a key battle, as will the one between Alasdair Dickinson and John Afoa at prop. The Edinburgh back row will have to deal with Matt Kvesic, the tournament's turn-over king, at the breakdown and if they can stop him from being as effective and influential as usual then it will do them a lot of good.

"We know we are going to play against a highly motivated Edinburgh side and will need to play at our very best to win. We need our international players to stand up and give us international class performances," added Humphreys.

The last time Gloucester reached the Challenge Cup final they needed extra-time to overcome London Irish. That was nine years ago and their last trophy came in 2011 when they won the Anglo-Welsh Cup.

Edinburgh have yet to win a trophy in the professional era, other than the 1872 Cup played for annually between themselves and arch-rivals Glasgow Warriors, and one of the big questions for them to answer at the Twickenham Stoop will be how will they cope with the pressure of the major occasion.

When they met in the European Cup pool stages last season they ended up with an away win each. Who will be the winner on the road this time with a major trophy at stake? It's too tight to call!

Match Facts
•Edinburgh are the first Scottish club to reach a European final while Gloucester - the 2006 champions - will be in appearing in their second decider.
•The competition has been won by an English club on 10 occasions, more than any other nation. French clubs have won the title six times, with Ireland and Wales on one each.
•Gloucester and Edinburgh have never met in the Challenge Cup before, but have played each other four times in Europe's top flight with the Cherry and Whites winning three.
•Gloucester have a 100% record this season and aim to repeat their 2005/06 feat of winning every game on their way to lifting the trophy.
•Edinburgh have the best lineout success (90%) in the competition with Ben Toolis the top lineout winner (44 including steals).
•The two finalists boast the two top scorers in the competition with Greig Laidlaw's 67 points bettered only by Sam Hidalgo-Clyne (91).
•Despite playing the maximum amount of games in this season's Challenge Cup, Gloucester (8) and Edinburgh (11) have conceded fewer tries than any other sides in the competition.
•Matt Kvesic has made the most tackles in the competition completing 97 of his 110 attempts. He has also won the most turnovers (15).
•Of the 370 players who have won the Challenge Cup, 131 are English and eight Scottish. The Scottish winners are: Joe Ansbro (Northampton Saints 2009), Craig Chalmers (Harlequins 2001), Scott Gray (Northampton Saints 2009), Kenny Logan (Wasps 2003), Euan Murray (Northampton Saints 2009), Bryan Redpath (Sale Sharks 2002, 2005), Tom Smith (Northampton Saints 2009), Barry Stewart (Sale Sharks 2005).

RDW_Scotland wrote:Denton has yet to start the graduated return to play protocol apparently, so is a doubt for next week.

Not a big problem as such (assuming no more injuries tonight) but would be a real boost to have him back.

BBC Sport wrote:Edinburgh captain Mike Coman believes they have raised the bar on and off the pitch this season.

The New Zealander joined the Pro12 club in September 2013, the start of a testing transitional period under head coach Alan Solomons.

"Our standards have changed a lot off the field; we're fitter for one," said the loose forward.

"There were boys coming off back-to-back seasons last year, hanging on by a thread and getting through games."

The back-row was involved in Friday's 37-0 thumping of Zebre, but Coman endured a trying introduction to the Pro12 as newly-appointed Solomons began to recruit, rebuild and redesign
Edinburgh, instilling a hard-nosed, forward-oriented style in place of the risk-laden, adventurous rugby of old.

After a wobbly start to the current league campaign, however, he now finds himself leading the club into the Challenge Cup final against Gloucester on Friday while chasing Champions Cup qualification via the domestic standings.

"You want guys going out there to prove something," said Coman.
"The boys really respect Alan and want to perform for him as well. He's got a very structured game plan and it probably frustrated people.

"I agree with that style of play. Coming from New Zealand, you realise you've got to have structure too, because there are so many guys that are naturally gifted and they just want to play rugby and, when you come up against good defences, that doesn't work."

Coman admits there were "tough times" at the start of the season and the players were aware of the criticism.

"But everyone's stuck to it and this is the tightest team I've ever been involved with," he said. "A group of boys that get on well and want to strive to play well for each other.

"We've got a good amount of experience here now, we're driving high standards and there's a good nucleus of leaders willing to drive those standards.

"That's led from Solly, because he's so honest and up front with boys."

As well as highlighting the squad's enhanced physical condition, Coman cited a combination of "little things" that have catalysed Edinburgh's upward trajectory.

"I think it's a combination of good personnel, right guys for the right jobs," he said. "We don't have any superstars that are all about themselves.

"Punctuality, timing, in meetings, guys have got books, writing things down, and they're being a lot more clinical with their roles.

"You look around the gym, boys are working hard, there's no mucking around, no talking - that's down to the trainers too.

"We're getting some consistency in our programmes. When I first arrived, things were changing a lot; we had different schedules, now boys are in a bit of a routine.

"When we go out to training, we're there to improve; we're not there just ticking boxes.

"We've started to get there, but we're by no means the finished product."

LondonTiger wrote:Wasn't May concussed HKC?

Just watched the first half of the game with Falcons. Seems to me that Glaws struggled to cope with the ref allowing a free-for-all at the breakdown.

We are currently working hard to allocate the tickets for the Final on Friday after only receiving the ticket stock late last week.
Most of the tickets were posted today, however, there are a small number of bookings still to be allocated and this will be done this evening and posted tomorrow.
If you have any further enquiries relating to your booking please email ticket.centre@sru.org.uk

RDW_Scotland wrote:Edinburgh have confirmed there will be a fan zone at London Scottsh's ground from 2-7pm.

Not sure why the feel the need to start so early, but I'll definitely be heading there late afternoon!

Sgt_Pooly wrote:If Gloucester play like they did in large parts like they did last week they're going to struggle.

One thing with Gloucester though, it's usually an entertaining affair, lets hope for a good one.

George Carlin wrote:Wenzaateamzout?

TJ wrote:
Lets hope so - we need this to be a showcase match.

des wrote:I was surprised to see the Planet Rugby poll has Edinburgh as slight favourites.

justified sinner wrote:For Embra Denton out but Watson , Tonks and Cuthbert all fit. According to the Scotsman.

http://www.scotsman.com/sport/rugby/latest/david-denton-set-to-miss-out-on-european-cup-final-1-3757416

RDW_Scotland wrote:

To be fair, Cuthbert is a completely different player from his Bath days - he has been a good player for us. Very strong under the high ball, big boot and even makes a few line breaks.  I'd say he's gone from oil tanker to elephant in terms of his speed work too!

Saying that, I'd stick with Tom Brown - With Tonks and Burleigh we don't need Cuthbert's kicking option, and Brown's extra pace will cover all the line breaks your back 3 are going to make.

Solomons could surprise us all though and go for

10 Burleigh
12 Strauss
13 Beard
15 Tonks

Which wouldn't be overly creative to say the least.

InjuredYetAgain wrote:To quote Hugh Grant in Four Weddings and a Funeral, bugger.
I really worry that Glaws are too good for our backs with Sharples, May and Burns ready to expose our lack of pace