Less than a week on from their famous Thomond Park triumph, Connacht will aim for their first ever league double over Cardiff Blues as they look to remain top of the GUINNESS PRO12 ahead of the pre-Christmas European rounds.
GUINNESS PRO12: Friday, December 4
CARDIFF BLUES (10th) v CONNACHT (1st), BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park, 7.05pm (live TG4/BBC 2 Wales/Galway Bay FM)
Team News: Connacht captain John Muldoon will become the first player to break the 200-cap mark in the GUINNESS PRO12 when the westerners visit Cardiff Blues.
The Connacht side to face Cardiff at BT Sports Cardiff Arms Park features eight personnel changes and one positional switch from the side that made history at Thomond Park last weekend.
Darragh Leader comes on to the right wing for his 50th Connacht appearance, while Tiernan O’Halloran shifts to full-back. Jack Carty is named at out-half with AJ MacGinty ruled out for up to four weeks, and scrum half Ian Porter earns his first PRO12 start of the season.
There is a new front row with the introduction of Ronan Loughney, Dave Heffernan and Rodney Ah You, while Quinn Roux returns from injury to partner Aly Muldowney in the second row.
Captain John Muldoon will be sporting a new shaven look when he becomes the first player to break the 200-cap barrier in the PRO12. The Galway man, who turned 33 on Monday, is named in the back row with Academy flanker James Connolly and returning number 8 Eoin McKeon.
Both Jason Harris-Wright and Conan O’Donnell are named among the front row replacements. Academy backs Peter Robb (pictured below) and Rory Parata are also listed on the bench, the former in line to make his PRO12 debut having started in the centre against Enisei-STM last month.
Commenting on the team selection and the trip to the Welsh capital, head coach Pat Lam said: “We have another big game on the road again this week. Cardiff has been a difficult fixture for us the past few seasons and they are very tough to beat at home.
“They have some quality, experienced players in their squad and they will view this game as a chance to get back to winning ways. We know we will have to be at our best and fully focused as a team to get the four points on offer in another vital PRO12 game, before attention switches to Europe.
“With the short turnaround and following a very physical game against Munster, we obviously see some changes in the side this week. While we lost four more guys to injury in the last game, we also have players coming back into contention.
“And with competition as high as ever, it makes our job for selection that bit more difficult but that’s what we want as coaches.
“I’d also like to give a special mention to our skipper and warrior Mul (John Muldoon) who consistently epitomises what we’re about and leads his province into battle for a record-breaking 200th time in the PRO12.”
Meanwhile, Alex Cuthbert returns to the starting line-up as Cardiff Blues tackle Lam’s league leaders. The fit-again Wales winger makes his comeback as head coach Danny Wilson makes five changes to the side that narrowly lost out to the Ospreys last week.
The other change to the back-line is a call-up for Rhys Patchell who returns at full-back. Hooker Ethan Lewis is handed a starting spot up front, while Jarrod Hoeata returns in the second row to partner Lou Reed.
The final change to the team comes in the back row where Macauley Cook comes in at blindside flanker with Josh Turnbull moving to openside. USA international Cam Dolan and Wales Under-20 centre Garyn Smith are named among the replacements.
CARDIFF BLUES: Rhys Patchell; Alex Cuthbert, Rey Lee-Lo, Gavin Evans, Tom James; Jarrod Evans, Lloyd Williams; Gethin Jenkins (capt), Ethan Lewis, Taufa’ao Filise, Jarrad Hoeata, Lou Reed, Macauley Cook, Josh Turnbull, Manoa Vosawai.
Replacements: Kristian Dacey, Sam Hobbs, Craig Mitchell, James Down, Cam Dolan, Tavis Knoyle, Garyn Smith, Dan Fish.
CONNACHT: Tiernan O’Halloran; Darragh Leader, Bundee Aki, Craig Ronaldson, Matt Healy; Jack Carty, Ian Porter; Ronan Loughney, Dave Heffernan, Rodney Ah You, Quinn Roux, Aly Muldowney, John Muldoon (capt), James Connolly, Eoin McKeon.
Replacements: Jason Harris-Wright, Conan O’Donnell, Finlay Bealham, George Naoupu, Sean O’Brien, Kieran Marmion, Peter Robb, Rory Parata.
Referee: Andy Brace (Ireland)
Assistant Referees: Neil Hennessy, Simon Rees (both Wales)
Television Match Official: Jonathan Mason (Wales)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Cardiff Blues to win: 10/11; Draw: 16/1; Connacht to win: 10/11
Pre-Match Quotes: Ronan Loughney (Connacht) – “Obviously it’s always great to come in on a Monday after a win. It was a long time since a Connacht team had won down there (at Thomond Park) so we enjoyed it.
“We were pretty much back into game mode straight away. Cardiff on Friday night is another massive game for us. At the start of the season, we highlighted the importance of us getting away wins in order to achieve our goal. So everyone had to be fully focused on Cardiff, especially as it was a short turnaround before we travelled again.
““I suppose from the outside looking in, there is more pressure on us after last week’s win but for us, we just take each week as it comes and focus on the game that is coming up. We don’t change our process regardless of the type of win or loss and that’s what is working well for us.
“We’ve been disappointed in games against Cardiff before, especially that game last year where we lost by one point after their score in the last play of the game. But, being injured for the start of this season and watching from the sidelines, I’ve noticed that there just seems to be a lot more maturity and confidence in the way we’re finishing games.
“For example against Munster, down to 14 men, the confidence was there to spot and take the opportunity instead of kicking it away. We’ve done a good bit of analysis on Cardiff and it’s not that long ago since we played them in round 3 so we know what threats are there. They are a strong mauling side and up front we know what we’ll be facing.”
Danny Wilson (Cardiff Blues) – “We’re all looking forward to facing the league leaders and top try points scorers in the PRO12 on home soil. Connacht have built a squad over a period of years that has really gelled together and they are really starting to see the fruits of that labour.
“They have had consistency and stability and there is real togetherness under Pat Lam. They have recruited well and also developed from within. We know what a task it is to play a top of the table side, but it is a home game and we come in of the back of a good performance in the derby.
“Elements of our performance are starting to build and hopefully we can get the results we all want. If we can get a win it would really bounce our season and kick us on.
“We massively respect what Connacht have done, but this Friday we want to put them under pressure and get a result that can be a springboard for the season.”
Top Scorers – 2015/16 GUINNESS PRO12: Cardiff Blues – Points: Rhys Patchell 88; Tries: Josh Turnbull 4; Connacht – Points: Jack Carty 52; Tries: Nepia Fox-Matamua, Matt Healy, Danie Poolman, Tiernan O’Halloran 3 each
RECENT LEAGUE MEETINGS:
Friday, February 22, 2013 – Cardiff Blues 22 Connacht 26, Cardiff Arms Park
Friday, September 13, 2013 – Cardiff Blues 21 Connacht 10, Cardiff Arms Park
Saturday, May 3, 2014 – Connacht 15 Cardiff Blues 22, the Sportsground
Friday, October 3, 2014 – Connacht 24 Cardiff Blues 24, the Sportsground
Friday, March 6, 2015 – Cardiff Blues 18 Connacht 17, BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park
Saturday, October 3, 2015 – Connacht 36 Cardiff Blues 31, the Sportsground
MATCH FACTS:
– Cardiff Blues have slipped to seven straight defeats in the GUINNESS PRO12, their worst run in the history of the league, although they have at least picked up four losing bonus points and one try-scoring bonus point along the way
– The Blues are actually the joint-second top try scorers in the PRO12 with 23, while their only two victories over Irish provinces in their last 13 such encounters have both been against Connacht
– Connacht continue to head the PRO12 table and are the league’s top try scorers with 25
– Their only defeat in any competition this season was by a single point in 65 at Glasgow Warriors in round 2. Connacht have won their last six matches in the competition, a new Connacht record
– Connacht won 36-31 in Galway in round 3 this season, and are going for a first ever league double over the Blues
– The westerners have won just twice before at BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park, against Cardiff RFC in 2001 and the Blues themselves in February 2013
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