Redpath awaits Mayol intensity
Toulon test awaits ambitious Gloucester
Gloucester play the first of two crucial back-to-back European Challenge Cup matches against Toulon on Saturday, looking for the two wins that will almost certainly pave their way into the quarter-finals.
While the Cherry-and-Whites can be confident about a home win against France's bottom club, the first leg of the two is a daunting trip to face one of France's biggest and most vocal club grounds.
Coach Bryan Redpath can provide plenty of invaluable input for Gloucester though, having spent a year down the coast from Toulon at Narbonne.
The 60-times capped Scotland scrum half also knows what it takes to win the European Challenge Cup having done that twice with Sale Sharks.
“We have won two from two but we have to win our next two games to be pretty sure of going through to the quarter-finals,” said the backs coach.
“That makes the match at Toulon a vital one for us as winning the European Challenge Cup is a target for us, it would be great to go all the way in the tournament.
Clubs in France treasure their stadiums and their prowess in front of their home fans. Toulon are now back in the French top flight after a five-year absence, and the locals are enjoying every second, despite the club's position in the table.
Crowds of 15,000 regularly flock to the Stade Felix Mayol, where Toulouse and Biarritz only escaped with narrow victories earlier this season.
“There are no easy away games in France – no matter who you are up against," continued Redpath.
"They see winning and getting their game right on their home ground as such a proud and passionate thing and that it is embarrassing to lose in front of their own supporters.
“We are well aware that it will be very physical and very intense.”
Gloucester have been further boosted this week by the news that lock Alex Brown is likely to be fit for the match.
Gloucester are hopeful that both James Simpson-Daniel and Alex Brown will prove their fitness later this week for the trip to France.
Brown, who has been tipped as a future England star, has returned to full contact training this week and is now close to a club return.
He has not played since Gloucester’s Guinness Premiership defeat at the Rec against Bath in October after damaging a disc in his neck.
“Alex is back in full training this week and we will see how he reacts. If he does okay, he could be available for the weekend, which would obviously be a major advantage to us,” said Ryan on the club website.
“He is an exceptional line-out forward and any team would miss a player of that calibre. We will just monitor how he progresses in a full week of training and take a decision from there.”
