French prop Christian Califano has warned his Gloucester colleagues not to underestimate Bourgoin in Saturday's Heineken Cup re-match.
Drier conditions may suit French
French prop Christian Califano has warned his Gloucester colleagues not to underestimate Bourgoin in Saturday's Heineken Cup-rematch.
Gloucester won 31-7 in France last week to put themselves in pole position to qualify from Pool 2, but Califano reckons his fellow countrymen will be out for revenge at Kingsholm.
"I know that Bourgoin have not been as competitive in the Heineken Cup over previous years as they might have been, but they gave us a really hard game in Round 3 and we are expecting a big return match in Kingsholm this weekend," he said.
"I have known Bourgoin for many, many years and it's a club and a team I have enormous respect for. There is a great deal of quality there.
Qualification
"Obviously the first thing we are looking to try to do is secure qualification for the quarter-finals but a home draw in the knock-out stages would be great for us and that is definitely in the back of our minds as we get ready for this week's match."
Califano also reckons the wet weather suited the visitors last week and forecast drier conditions in England this weekend may help Bourgoin.
"It's true that the weather in the first leg really suited our game - we are well used to playing in the rain," he added.
"lthough I think Bourgoin are also used to the wet weather, I think that it prevented them from playing the expansive game they seemed to want to play and that is something we are very aware of looking towards the return leg.
Handling
"They had several chances to score but their handling suffered in the rain and if the weather is fine this weekend I think they could be very dangerous.
"Bourgoin are a very strong and physical team with a lot of experience between them and I think the return leg will be a lot tighter than people think.
"They have a very strong pack and their backs are very well marshalled by Benjamin Boyet - I think it will be a tight scoreline on Saturday."
Gloucester have two of their remaining three games at their Kingsholm fortress - Bourgoin on Saturday and then in Round 6 against Ulster. In between they have a trip to Wales to face the Ospreys and that looks like being the key game in this pool.
