European Challenge Cup Preview: Pool 5

It is fair to say that Gloucester have been the most impressive team in the competition so far. They have picked up a whopping 19 points from their opening four games and look certain to make it to the knockout stages. Oyonnax are behind them with 12 points, with hopes of a place in the last eight still very much alive. Zebre and Brive complete the group with both sides out of the running and now playing for pride.

Gloucester welcome Oyonnax to Kingsholm on Saturday with the French side needing a win to keep alive the Challenge Cup ambitions. Gloucester go into the game on the back of two wins in the league which included a win over Saracens with James Hook winning the game for the Cherry and Whites with a late penalty. As for Oyonnax they were able to defeat Montpellier at the weekend and will need to follow that up with a win against Ian Humphreys side. However with Gloucester winning all of their last 12 games in the Challenge Cup Oyonnax will face a huge challenge in coming away from Kingsholm with a win.

The other game in the pool see’s Zebre take on Brive. Brive look set to continue to play a second string team in the competition with games in the league their main priority. As for Zebre they go into the game bottom of the Pro12 and go in search of completing the double over Brive after defeating them in France in the reverse fixture in round 2.