Connacht will aim to put last week’s defeat to Cardiff Blues and a frustratingly long injury list behind them when they resume their European Challenge Cup campaign at home to Dean Richards’ Newcastle Falcons.
EUROPEAN CHALLENGE CUP – POOL 1: Friday, December 11
CONNACHT (1st) v NEWCASTLE FALCONS (2nd), the Sportsground, 7.45pm (live Galway Bay FM)
Team News: Connacht head coach Pat Lam has made 10 changes from last week as the westerners take on Newcastle Falcons in round 3 of the European Challenge Cup at the Sportsground.
Jack Carty is retained at out-half and the 21-year-old Caolin Blade is handed the number 9 shirt for his first start of the season, having made an appearance from the bench in Krasnoyarsk last month.
There is a new centre partnership with Academy duo Rory Parata and Peter Robb lining out together. Niyi Adeolokun is promoted to the right wing, while Matt Healy, on the left, gets his first taste of European action this season. Galway man Tiernan O’Halloran will captain the side from full-back.
In the pack, there are just two players retained from last Friday’s GUINNESS PRO12 loss at Cardiff Blues – Aly Muldowney and James Connolly (pictured below) who, this week, was one of three Academy players to sign a senior contract for next season.
Prop Finlay Bealham, now the only player to have been involved in every game this season, starts in a new front row alongside Jason Harris-Wright and Ireland international Nathan White.
Ultan Dillane returns to the second row to partner Muldowney, while Galway man Sean O’Brien earns his first senior start, forming the back row with Connolly and the experienced George Naoupu at number 8.
Daniel Qualter is included among the replacements, while Dave Heffernan will be required to cover the back row from the bench. Shane O’Leary and Danie Poolman have both returned from injury to take their places in the matchday squad.
Meanwhile, fit-again full-back Simon Hammersley is one of 11 changes to the Newcastle Falcons’ starting line-up following last Sunday’s 38-3 Aviva Premiership loss at home to Saracens.
Hammersley is one of eleven players in the matchday squad to have been involved with the Falcons’ Academy. All but one of the backs are part of this group as Chris Harris and Tom Penny continue in the centre after impressing in the opening two rounds, while Zach Kibirige and Dan Marshall are the starting wingers.
Having performed well against Brive at full-back and conducting the club’s ‘A’ team from out-half, Craig Willis will don the number 10 shirt, while Tongan international Tane Takulua makes his first start for Newcastle since returning from Rugby World Cup duty.
In the pack, England Under-20 lock Will Witty makes his second start for the club as he continues his injury comeback. He joined in the second row by England international Mouritz Botha, the pair lining up behind last weekend’s replacement front row of Alex Rogers, Scotland hooker Scott Lawson and Tongan tighthead Taione Vea.
New Zealand-born Academy graduate Dan Temm steps back into the number 7 jersey, while Ally Hogg and Richard Mayhew complete the back row, with the latter also assuming captaincy duties.
After scoring four tries against Enisei-STM, former England Sevens flyer Marcus Watson will be hoping to add to his tally this weekend from the bench where he is joined by Argentinian international Juan Socino and Academy scrum half Ruaridh Dawson.
England Under-18 captain Callum Chick also features among the Falcons’ replacements alongside lock Callum Green, hooker Rob Hawkins and props Ben Harris and Andrew Foster.
CONNACHT: Tiernan O’Halloran (capt); Niyi Adeolokun, Rory Parata, Peter Robb, Matt Healy; Jack Carty, Caolin Blade; Finlay Bealham, Jason Harris-Wright, Nathan White, Ultan Dillane, Aly Muldowney, Sean O’Brien, James Connolly, George Naoupu.
Replacements: Shane Delahunt, Conan O’Donnell, Rodney Ah You, Daniel Qualter, Dave Heffernan, Ian Porter, Shane O’Leary, Danie Poolman.
NEWCASTLE FALCONS: Simon Hammersley; Dan Marshall, Tom Penny, Chris Harris, Zach Kibirige; Craig Willis, Tane Takulua; Alex Rogers, Scott Lawson, Taione Vea, Will Witty, Mouritz Botha, Richard Mayhew (capt), Dan Temm, Ally Hogg.
Replacements: Rob Vickers, Ben Harris, Andy Foster, Calum Green, Callum Chick, Ruaridh Dawson, Juan Socino, Marcus Watson.
Referee: Thomas Charabas (France)
Assistant Referees: David Rosich, Laurent Amic (both France)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Connacht to win: 1/4; Draw: 20/1; Newcastle Falcons to win: 16/5
Pre-Match Quotes: Pat Lam (Connacht) – “With 18 players unavailable through injury from our European squad, it was certainly a challenge to piece together a matchday squad for Friday night.
“We are forced to name the 23 remaining players which include three hookers in the squad as Dave (Heffernan) will be required to cover the back row. Thankfully Danie and Ian passed late fitness tests on Thursday morning to take their place on the bench. While it isn’t ideal, it’s simply another test for us to meet head on.
“Newcastle will bring their own strengths and we are expecting a very physical battle. Despite all the changes, if we work together as a team and stick to our structures on Friday night, we’ll increase our chances of getting the job done.
“We’re really looking forward to playing back at the Sportsground in front of our home crowd again after a few weeks on the road.”
Tom Penny (Newcastle Falcons) – “We put in a couple of good performances in Europe, against Brive we were unlucky not get the result and then the team went hard against Enisei. It was good to get the assists – I’m not all about the glory so it’s good to set them up!
“I really enjoy playing with Chris (Harris), we work well together. There are still things we need to learn in terms of attack and defence and combining, but we get on pretty well, we’re housemates as well and its good to be in the centre with him.
“Connacht have had a really good start to the season, including beating Munster for the first time in nearly 30 years, so it’s going to be a big task to go over there on their home turf. But I think we are in a good place after a good week’s training and the boys are buzzing for it. It will be good to get out there and give it a go.”
Current Form – Connacht – (GUINNESS PRO12): Won 29-23 at home to the Newport Gwent Dragons; Lost 33-32 away to Glasgow Warriors; Won 36-31 at home to Cardiff Blues; Won 34-15 at home to Zebre; Won 21-16 away to the Ospreys; Won 14-9 at home to Edinburgh; Won 33-19 at home to Benetton Treviso; (European Challenge Cup): Won 31-14 away to Enisei-STM; Won 21-17 at home to Brive; (GUINNESS PRO12): Won 18-12 away to Munster; Lost 20-16 away to Cardiff Blues
Newcastle Falcons – (Aviva Premiership): Lost 39-27 at home to Gloucester; Lost 42-16 away to Northampton Saints; Lost 41-3 at home to Exeter Chiefs; Lost 28-20 away to Worcester Warriors; (European Challenge Cup): Lost 13-9 away to Brive; Won 55-7 at home to Enisei-STM; (Aviva Premiership): Drew 15-15 away to Sale Sharks; Lost 38-3 at home to Saracens
Top Scorers – 2015/16 European Challenge Cup: Connacht – Points: Rory Parata 10; Tries: Rory Parata 2; Newcastle Falcons – Points: Marcus Watson 20; Tries: Marcus Watson 4
Previous European Meetings: 3
Sunday, December 16, 2007 – Pool 3 – Newcastle Falcons 39 Connacht 0, Kingston Park Stadium
Friday, December 7, 2007 – Pool 3 – Connacht 16 Newcastle Falcons 13, the Sportsground
Friday, March 31, 2006 – Quarter-final – Newcastle Falcons 23 Connacht 3, Kingston Park Stadium
Match Facts –
– The home side has triumphed on the previous three occasions these sides have met in the Challenge Cup with Newcastle emerging victorious in two of those games and Connacht winning one
– Connacht have won eight of their last 11 matches in the Challenge Cup, including both matches so far this season
– Connacht have not beaten an English side in the Challenge Cup since beating Worcester Warriors twice in the 2009/10 pool stages, losing all five games against teams from England since then
– A loss for Newcastle would be their third in succession away from home, equalling the club’s longest such run in the Challenge Cup
Challenge Cup Records:
Connacht –
2014/15: Reached the quarter-finals
2010/11: Failed to qualify from Pool 1
2009/10: Reached the semi-finals
2008/09: Reached the quarter-finals
2007/08: Failed to qualify from Pool 3
2006/07: Failed to qualify from Pool 4
2005/06: Reached the quarter-finals
2004/05: Reached the semi-finals
2003/04: Reached the semi-finals
2002/03: Reached the quarter-finals
2001/02: Failed to qualify from Pool 4
2000/01: Failed to qualify from Pool 2
1999/00: Failed to qualify from Pool 4
1998/99: Failed to qualify from Pool 1
1997/98: Failed to qualify from Pool 4
1996/97: Failed to qualify from Pool 3
Newcastle Falcons –
2014/15: Reached the quarter-finals
2013/14: Failed to qualify from Pool 3
2011/12: Failed to qualify from Pool 2
2010/11: Failed to qualify from Pool 3
2009/10: Reached the quarter-finals
2008/09: Reached the quarter-finals
2007/08: Reached the semi-finals
2006/07: Reached the quarter-finals
2005/06: Reached the semi-finals
2003/04: Reached round 2
2002/03: Reached the quarter-finals
2000/01: Reached the semi-finals
1999/00: Reached the quarter-finals
1997/98: Reached the semi-finals
This website uses cookies.
Read More