2020-21 European Rugby Champions Cup – Gloucester vs La Rochelle Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
When is Gloucester vs La Rochelle taking place? Friday 2nd April, 2021 – 20:00 (UK)
Where is Gloucester vs La Rochelle taking place? Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester
Where can I get tickets for Gloucester vs La Rochelle? Visit official club websites for ticket information
What television channel is Gloucester vs La Rochelle on? This match will be televised live on BT Sport
Where can I stream Gloucester vs La Rochelle? BT Sport subscribers can stream the match live via the BT Sport website & app
THE TEAM NEWS
Gloucester: 15 Santiago Carreras, 14 Louis Rees-Zammit, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Mark Atkinson, 11 Jonny May, 10 George Barton, 9 Willi Heinz, 8 Ruan Ackermann, 7 Lewis Ludlow (c), 6 Jordy Reid, 5 Matias Alemanno, 4 Ed Slater, 3 Fraser Balmain, 2 Henry Walker, 1 Val Rapava-Ruskin
Replacements: 16 Santiago Socino, 17 Alex Seville, 18 Jamal Ford-Robinson, 19 Alex Craig, 20 Freddie Clarke, 21 Jack Clement, 22 Charlie Chapman, 23 Billy Twelvetrees
La Rochelle: 15 Dillyn Leyds, 14 Arthur Retiere, 13 Raymond Rhule, 12 Levani Botia, 11 Jules Favre, 10 Ihaia West, 9 Tawera Kerr Barlow, 8 Victor Vito, 7 Kevin Gourdon, 6 Wiaan Liebenberg, 5 Will Skelton, 4 Romain Sazy (c), 3 Arthur Joly, 2 Facundo Bosch, 1 Dany Priso
Replacements: 16 Pierre Bourgarit, 17 Reda Wardi, 18 Uini Atonio, 19 Thomas Lavault, 20 Grégory Alldritt, 21 Thomas Berjon, 22 Jules Plisson, 23 Geoffrey Doumayrou
THE PREDICTION
La Rochelle were able to close the gap at the top of the Top 14 last weekend with a welcome bounce-back win against in-form Bordeaux, 11-26 away from home. With five wins and three defeats this calendar year they looked to be drifting away from the title race but Toulouse’s defeat on Saturday brought them right back into it and that should amp up their performance in the Champions Cup too. The French giants travel to a Gloucester side in high spirits, though, after they beat the Premiership’s reigning champions Exeter Chiefs 34-18 last Friday night. With a sense of another upset naturally in the air as a result, especially as La Rochelle travel to Gloucester here, it could be worth lowering expectations and opting for the visitors to cover a tight -5 here.
