Having lost their last three GUINNESS PRO12 games, Connacht really need a positive result against high-flying Glasgow Warriors when the sides meet in Galway this afternoon.
GUINNESS PRO12: Saturday, April 25
CONNACHT (7th) v GLASGOW WARRIORS (2nd), the Sportsground, 1.05pm (live TG4/BBC ALBA/Galway Bay FM)
Team News: Head coach Pat Lam has made three personnel changes to his Connacht team to face Glasgow Warriors at the Sportsground in round 20 of the GUINNESS PRO12.
Athlone man Jack Carty will start at out-half in an otherwise unchanged back-line that sees Robbie Henshaw and Bundee Aki link up in the centre for the fifth time.
Up front, Academy lock Ultan Dillane, who will be promoted to the senior squad next season, has been called in to partner Aly Muldowney in the second row. Galway native Eoin McKeon is recalled to the back row to join captain John Muldoon and recent Player of the Month award winner Eoghan Masterson.
From the replacements bench, Sportsground favourite George Naoupu is in line to make his 100th appearance in a Connacht jersey.
Meanwhile, the 21-year-old Jonny Gray, who will captain Glasgow Warriors for the first time, returns to the second row where he will partner Fijian international Leone Nakarawa.
Stuart Hogg also returns at full-back after missing the win over Cardiff Blues a fortnight ago through injury, with Peter Murchie named on the bench. Tommy Seymour continues on the right wing, with Niko Matawalu returning on the opposite wing, in place of the injured DTH van der Merwe.
Richie Vernon and Peter Horne continue their centre partnership, with Finn Russell and Henry Pyrgos once again the half-back pairing.
In the pack Jerry Yanuyanutawa continues at loosehead prop, while Fraser Brown replaces Dougie Hall at hooker and Euan Murray returns from injury at tighthead. It will be Murray’s first appearance in a Warriors jersey since January’s win over the Scarlets at Scotstoun Stadium.
Gray comes in for Tim Swinson and Nakarawa takes over from Al Kellock in the second row, while it is the same back row that played against Cardiff as Rob Harley, Chris Fusaro and Adam Ashe are all retained.
Ryan Grant, who is on the bench, returns from a five-week spell on the sidelines and another replacement of note is Duncan Weir who is continuing his own comeback from injury.
CONNACHT: Tiernan O’Halloran; Danie Poolman, Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki, Matt Healy; Jack Carty, Kieran Marmion; Denis Buckley, Tom McCartney, Rodney Ah You, Ultan Dillane, Aly Muldowney, John Muldoon (capt), Eoghan Masterson, Eoin McKeon.
Replacements: Shane Delahunt, Ronan Loughney, Finlay Bealham, Andrew Browne, George Naoupu, John Cooney, Miah Nikora, Darragh Leader.
GLASGOW WARRIORS: Stuart Hogg; Tommy Seymour, Richie Vernon, Peter Horne, Niko Matawalu; Finn Russell, Henry Pyrgos; Jerry Yanuyanutawa, Fraser Brown, Euan Murray, Leone Nakarawa, Jonny Gray (capt), Rob Harley, Chris Fusaro, Adam Ashe.
Replacements: Kevin Bryce, Ryan Grant, Jon Welsh, Tim Swinson, Josh Strauss, Duncan Weir, Peter Murchie, Lee Jones.
Referee: Marius Mitrea (Italy)
Assistant Referees: Andy Brace, Oisin Quinn (both Ireland)
Television Match Official: Dermot Moloney (Ireland)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Connacht to win: 7/4; Draw: 20/1; Glasgow Warriors to win: 4/9
Pre-Match Quotes: Pat Lam (Connacht) – “You could say this is our toughest game of the season with who we are up against and what is on the line. We understand the massive importance of Saturday but we have prepared like we would every game. It’s up to us to go out and perform as a team.
“Glasgow are the league leaders for a reason. They are a well-coached side with huge depth in their squad of internationals and they are the number one offloading team who can score plenty of tries. So defensively, we will have to be spot on.
“It’s a huge challenge but we’re really excited by it and the fact that we’re at home makes it even more special. The Connacht support has been huge all year. They have carried us home in these big games before and with so much riding on the game, it’s great to know that they’ll be behind us again this weekend.”
Gregor Townsend (Glasgow Warriors) – “Connacht are a well-coached team that play with passion and ambition, and we respect them very highly. They have played well this season and are challenging for a top six finish.
“We welcome back a number of Scotland internationals and we’re delighted that Jonny Gray has been given the opportunity to captain the side from the start of the game.
“We enjoy playing at the Sportsground as there is always a really good atmosphere thanks to the vocal home support and we know we’ll have to be fully focused for the full 80 minutes in order to deliver the level of performance required.”
Top Scorers – 2014/15 GUINNESS PRO12: Connacht – Points: Craig Ronaldson 61; Tries: Aly Muldowney, Matt Healy 4 each; Glasgow Warriors – Points: Peter Horne 99; Tries: DTH van der Merwe, Peter Horne 6 each
RECENT LEAGUE MEETINGS:
Saturday, February 18, 2012 – Connacht 13 Glasgow Warriors 13, the Sportsground
Friday, September 21, 2012 – Glasgow Warriors 27 Connacht 17, Scotstoun Stadium
Friday, May 3, 2013 – Connacht 3 Glasgow Warriors 20, the Sportsground
Saturday, November 2, 2013 – Connacht 12 Glasgow Warriors 19, the Sportsground
Sunday, February 9, 2014 – Glasgow Warriors 8 Connacht 6, Scotstoun Stadium
Friday, September 26, 2014 – Glasgow Warriors 39 Connacht 21, Scotstoun Stadium
MATCH FACTS:
– Connacht have slipped to defeat in their last four fixtures in all competitions since beating
Benetton Treviso 53-5 in Galway in the GUINNESS PRO12 on March 1
– The westerners have won only two of their last eight contests with Scottish opponents
– Glasgow Warriors’ only defeat in their last six PRO12 fixtures was 22-10 to Munster in Cork in round 16, while they have gained a try-scoring bonus point in each of their last three matches
– Away from home it is a different story. Their only win in their last seven trips in all competitions was on a visit to Zebre in the PRO12 in February
– Connacht have not beaten Glasgow since a 37-8 success at the Sportsground in February 2011, subsequently there has been a draw (in February 2012) and six successive victories for the Warriors
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