Rugby: Gloucester send Munster message loud and clear

IF GLOUCESTER truly believe the harshest of all European lessons have sunk through the thickest of Kingsholm craniums, round three of an already enthralling confrontation against Munster will test them like no other next weekend.

Forget for a minute their dismemberment at Thomond Park last season easily the most magnificent club rugby occasion of the year and even the significance of their first Premiership victory at Welford Road on Saturday, because the latest Irish invasion will guarantee a level of competition not experienced at Castle Grim this season.

Despite the level of Leicester fallibility that bordered on the criminal they now look a side treading water even with their World Cup winners in tow Gloucester will re-enter the Heineken Cup with confidence, if not necessarily expectations, raised to the limit.

They have waited for the opportunity to bury the memory of their 33-6 elimination in the concrete Munster citadel for almost a year, but there is no room for error on Saturday a home defeat and they would almost certainly be out of the competition regardless of the fact three games will remain.

But if the level of focus throughout Nigel Melville's squad is as desperate as scrum-half Andy Gomarsall, Gloucester's season may just be buzzing into life.

"Next Saturday is a hell of a test, our biggest of the season, and for that reason we have to knuckle down," Gomarsall said.

"I am sure there will be the odd smile at training this week after the Leicester result but we cannot afford to be complacent.

"We need to improve as a club and as individuals before the Munster game and if that means we stay behind for extra work after training, we do it.

"Against Leicester we had structure and played with intelligence in the first half but we need to keep the ball more we could have won even more comfortably and if we make the same mistakes against Munster, we will be punished, I have no doubt about that.

"If we had come off the pitch on Saturday with a defeat, Munster would not even have been worth thinking about. Picking ourselves up would have been difficult, but we can really look forward to it now."

Gloucester shook Leicester out of their comfort zone and attacked wide believing quite rightly they would struggle to contain the running power of James Simpson-Daniel and Marcel Garvey.

They are likely to employ the same tactics against Munster, provided their forwards can achieve parity against the visiting pack.

But they will be helped by the likely return of Phil Vickery from a rib injury and current form of Trevor Woodman, Alex Brown and Junior Paramore hardheads all, who went the distance and then some against the Tigers.

"Winning at Leicester was hugely substantial for us," confirmed Melville. "It is a great bonus and in a month like we have got, a massive confidence boost.

"Any win at Leicester can be seen as a turning point in a season, they are that important, particularly with Munster coming up.

"Only time will tell whether it gets our season going or not but it is a good way to start."

But it is fitting the final word should go to a forward who will have a major role next Saturday. "We need to have our bodies on fire but cool heads, that is crucial," said Woodman.

When Gloucester forwards start being as tough in the top five inches as they have always been in the bottom six feet, anything is possible.

Light the blue touch-paper and stand well back.