Need to Know: Edinburgh v Munster, Champions Cup quarter-final match preview 2018/19

KO 12.45pm
BT Murrayfield
Saturday 30th March 2019
Live on BT Sport 3

Champions Cup stats:

• Saturday’s crowd may top the 37,882 who watched Edinburgh’s last European Cup quarter-final against Toulouse in 2012.
• Stuart McInally, Grant Gilchrist and Ross Ford all featured in that knockout fixture 7 years ago. Gilcho is the only player to start both matches.
• Edinburgh are going for their 6th consecutive win in the Champions Cup. This would be their longest ever streak in the tournament, beating their run during the 2003/04 season.
• If Edinburgh win they will either travel to play Saracens at the Ricoh Arena or host Glasgow at Murrayfield.
• Keith Earls’ 62 Champions Cup appearances are only one less than the combined tally for all 7 members of the Edinburgh backline.
  

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Starting XV stats:

BACKS
10 Champions Cup tries 43
63 Champions Cup appearances 207
3 Capped players 6

FORWARDS
894kg Pack weight 876kg
574kg Tight 5 weight 557kg
144 Champions Cup appearances 242
7 Capped players 7

Changes from Round 6:

Edinburgh’s Champions Cup run has been built on consistency of selection. This will be the 5th European game in a row for most of the starting XV. A return from injury sees John Barclay slotting into a Test quality pack. Going the other way is Blair Kinghorn who is replaced by Damien Hoyland with Darcy Graham moving to full back.

Edinburgh Introductions:

Damien Hoyland will make his Champions Cup debut, as will Charlie Shiel from the bench. John Barclay will play in this competition for Edinburgh for the first time more than 13 years after his European Cup debut for Glasgow against Bourgoin on 21st October 2005. Side note – Charlie Shield was 7 years old when JB played in that game…

Edinburgher to Eyeball:

Even in a back row that features the carrying monster Viliame Mata plus Scotland captain and breakdown king John Barclay the unstoppable force that is Hamish Watson stands out. His highlight reel is filled with the pinballing carries that have become his trademark.

While his contribution in attack will no doubt be a positive for Edinburgh it’s what he gets up to on the other side of the ball that could be really telling. Hamish’s work over the ball is exemplary and with the home side likely to be looking to kick and press with the desire to win possession in good field position his ability to turn over the opposition could prove crucial.

Edinburgh’s Track Record…

…at home against Irish sides in the Champions Cup:

• 5 wins
• 3 losses

Edinburgh 21 – 23 Ulster (Easter Road, 8/11/98)
Edinburgh 29 – 21 Leinster (Myreside, 6/10/00)
Edinburgh 25 – 24 Leinster (Murrayfield, 29/10/06)
Edinburgh 29 – 10 Leinster (Murrayfield, 15/12/07)
Edinburgh 16 – 27 Leinster (Murrayfield, 11/10/08)
Edinburgh 17 – 13 Ulster (Murrayfield, 17/10/09)
Edinburgh 17 – 26 Munster (Murrayfield, 13/1/13)
Edinburgh 29 – 23 Munster (Murrayfield, 12/10/13)

Most recent meeting at Murrayfield:

Officials:

Referee: Pascal Gauzere (Fra)
AR1: Ludovic Cayre (Fra)
AR2: Jonathan Dufort (Fra)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (Fra)

There should be no shortage of game tape and practical experience when it comes to M. Gauzere. The French official has taken charge of 5 Scotland matches in the last 2 years and the Edinburgh forwards in particular should have a good handle on his tendencies.

M. Gauzere has dished out 22.1 penalties per game in the Top 14 – which is pretty much bang on the average fir that league. Those numbers would put him at the top end for Premiership refs and are about 10% higher than even the most whistle happy PRO14 officials.

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Additional ref stats from the excellent resources at http://www.cardiffrfcfans.co.uk/analysis/analysis.php#referees