Gloucester will start hot favourites, home advantage and a strong group performance will give their notorious ‘Shed End’ fans something to sing about.
“Gloucester put 90 points on Caerphilly and perhaps they expect to do the same to us. But if we are still in the game at half-time, their crowd could turn on them and put them under more pressure. ” said Vale coach Mike Ruddock.
The two sides have faced each other in Europe before. In the 1996-7 Shield tournament Gloucester won 59-7, something Cull and co. will hope to reverse this evening.
Ebbw Vale: M James’ A Takarangi, R Shorney, P Matthews, A Wagstaff; G Cull, K Ellis; I Thomas, L Phillips, M Jones, C Billen (capt), N Edwards, K Tuipulotu, P Williams, W Thomas.
Replacements: D Penisini,J Evans, O Booyse, R Williams, D Weatherley, A Bevan, R Watts
Referee: Giulio de Santis (Italy)
PARKER PEN SHIELD Quarter Final.
Gloucester v Ebbw Vale
Kingsholm, Gloucester.
Kick off 19:05