Connacht have named their starting side for tomorrow’s crucial BKT United Rugby Championship clash with Cardiff at The Sportsground on Saturday. Six changes have been made to the team.
Jack Carty, Finlay Bealham, Denis Buckley, Jarrad Butler, Josh Murphy and Diarmuid Kilgallen all return to the side.
Tiernan O’Halloran, Kilgallen, Mack Hansen start in a back three.
Tom Farrell and Bundee Aki start in midfield.
Carty starts as captain and as out half alongside Caolin Blade at scrum half.
Buckley, Dylan Tierney-Martin, and Bealham start in Connacht's front row.
Let's do this! 👊💚🦅
📰: https://t.co/RMHB056RPX#BKTURC #CONvCAR pic.twitter.com/IrFH9Id8rg— Connacht Rugby (@connachtrugby) April 14, 2023
In the second row Murphy and Niall Murray start.
The side is finally completed by Butler, Cian Prendergast, and Conor Oliver
Director of Rugby Andy Friend said: “There’s a great buzz around the place this week. We’re all very aware of the importance of tomorrow’s game, and we’re really focussed on ensuring we’re at our best from minute one to the final whistle.
"Having six men back from injury for this game is a huge boost for us, and it also means that we’ve had make a number of really difficult selection decisions and some quality players are missing out. As much as that’s a headache, its a brilliant place to be at this time of year.
With a big home crowd expected and with their energy behind us, we’ll be doing everything in our power to get us closer to that playoff spot”
The game in Galway starts at 7.35pm.
Fullback 15. Tiernan O’Halloran
Winger 14 Diarmuid Kilgallen
Centres 13 Tom Farrell 12 Bundee Aki
Winger 11 Mack Hansen
Out half 10 Jack Carty (C) Scum half 9 Caolin Blade
Front Row 1. Denis Buckley. 2. Dylan Tierney-Martin 3. Finlay Bealham
Second Row 4. Josh Murphy 5. Niall Murray
Back Row 6. Cian Prendergast 7. Conor Oliver 8. Jarrad Butler
Replacments: 16. Eoin de Buitléar, 17. Peter Dooley, 18. Dominic Robertson-McCoy, 19. Oisín Dowling, 20. Shamus Hurley-Langton, 21. Kieran Marmion, 22. Tom Daly, 23. Shane Jennings
