Three Changes Up Front For Connacht
Connacht head coach Pat Lam has named his side for the return leg of the back-to-back Heineken Cup matches against Toulouse at the Sportsground on Saturday (kick-off 6pm).
Pat Lam has made three changes to the team that defeated the four-time European champions 16-14 last weekend.
All these changes come in the pack as Connacht look to record three consecutive wins for the first time in their Heineken Cup history.
Jason Harris-Wright and Rodney Ah You come into the front row in place of Sean Henry and Nathan White, while Galway man Eoin McKeon has been named to start at number 8 in the back row with John Muldoon and Jake Heenan.
In the backs, 20-year-old Ireland international Robbie Henshaw is at full-back with Dan Parks and Kieran Marmion – the scorer of that crucial second half try in Toulouse – making up the half-back pairing.
Commenting on the squad’s preparations and the challenge of facing the French giants again, Lam said: “Our week was certainly disrupted with an outbreak of the flu affecting twelve of our squad members.
“We had to curtail the session yesterday and were restricted in what we could do. But these things are out of control and thankfully a lot of the guys are feeling better today after some rest.
“We’ve made some changes to the pack after what was a hugely physical game last week. Unfortunately we lost Michael Swift to injury but we have the experience of Andrew (Browne) returning to the matchday squad this week.
“Last weekend’s game was the biggest challenge we faced as a team, and we overcame that, but now we’re up against another massive challenge. We’re playing a vengeful Toulouse who will come here determined to turn around last week’s defeat.
“Like everyone we want the win, but as with every game our focus is on the process of winning the game.
“It’s going to be an fantastic atmosphere with the Sportsground sold out and I know that will only add to the occasion and drive the team on.”
CONNACHT (v Toulouse): Robbie Henshaw; Fionn Carr, Eoin Griffin, David McSharry, Matt Healy; Dan Parks, Kieran Marmion; Brett Wilkinson, Jason Harris-Wright, Rodney Ah You, Michael Kearney, Craig Clarke (capt), John Muldoon, Jake Heenan, Eoin McKeon.
Replacements: Sean Henry, Denis Buckley, Nathan White, Andrew Browne, George Naoupu, Frank Murphy, Craig Ronaldson, Gavin Duffy.