Connacht enter the final round of the GUINNESS PRO12 in seventh place which would secure them a European Champions Cup play-off away to Gloucester. The westerners could yet finish in the top six depending on how they get on against the Ospreys and results elsewhere.
GUINNESS PRO12: Saturday, May 16
CONNACHT (7th) v OSPREYS (1st), the Sportsground, 3pm (live S4C/www.tg4.tv/Galway Bay FM/highlights TG4)
Team News: Connacht head coach Pat Lam has made three personnel changes to his side for Saturday’s GUINNESS PRO12 final round match against league leaders, the Ospreys.
Scrum half Kieran Marmion starts in a back-line that also sees Connacht centurion and record try scorer, Fionn Carr, named on the right wing.
Up front, Galway man Andrew Browne is promoted from the bench to join Aly Muldowney in the second row. John Muldoon, who has started all 22 PRO12 fixtures this season, will once again captain the province from the back row alongside Eoghan Masterson and Eoin McKeon.
The most notable inclusion on the bench is Connacht’s most-capped player of all-time Michael Swift, who has worked his way back from injury to take his place among the replacements for what could be his last home game before he retires.
The 37-year-old Swift, who has played 263 times for the province, is also joined on the bench by Miah Nikora and Shane O’Leary, one of Connacht’s try scorers last time out against Zebre.
Meanwhile, the Ospreys team to play Connacht shows two changes to the side that overcame former table toppers, Glasgow Warriors, on a 21-10 scoreline in Swansea.
Winger Hanno Dirksen comes in for hamstring injury victim Jeff Hassler, while Dmitri Arhip replaces Aaron Jarvis in the front row where he starts alongside fellow prop Nicky Smith and hooker Scott Baldwin.
CONNACHT: Tiernan O’Halloran; Fionn Carr, Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki, Matt Healy; Jack Carty, Kieran Marmion; Denis Buckley, Tom McCartney, Rodney Ah You, Andrew Browne, Aly Muldowney, John Muldoon (capt), Eoghan Masterson, Eoin McKeon.
Replacements: Dave Heffernan, JP Cooney, Finlay Bealham, Michael Swift, George Naoupu, John Cooney, Miah Nikora, Shane O’Leary.
OSPREYS: Dan Evans; Hanno Dirksen, Ben John, Josh Matavesi, Eli Walker; Dan Biggar, Rhys Webb; Nicky Smith, Scott Baldwin, Dmitri Arhip, Tyler Ardron, Alun Wyn Jones (capt), James King, Justin Tipuric, Dan Baker.
Replacements: Sam Parry, Marc Thomas, Aaron Jarvis, Rory Thornton, Dan Lydiate, Tom Habberfield, Sam Davies, Jonathan Spratt.
Referee: Marius Mitrea (Italy)
Assistant Referees: Andy Brace, Nigel Correll (both Ireland)
Television Match Official: Seamus Flannery (Ireland)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Connacht to win: 21/10; Draw: 22/1; Ospreys to win: 4/11
Pre-Match Quotes: Pat Lam (Connacht) – “Losing Darragh (Leader) and Danie (Poolman) in the same week to what is already extensive injury list was obviously a blow, but with the culture of team work we have, it’s just another opportunity for the next guy to step up and do the job.
“This is probably the most experienced team that we can put out and that will be vital against the Ospreys. No man has more experience than Michael Swift. He has worked extremely hard the last few months to get himself back to this position and the preparation, detail and intensity he showed in training this week demonstrated how deserved his inclusion is in the matchday squad.
“We all know the enormity of this game. Since pre-season, we have set our sights on a top six finish and to be going into round 22 with our ultimate goal still a possibility is very exciting. It’s uncharted waters for Connacht Rugby to have so much to play for at this stage of the season and we’re really relishing it.
“Come 5pm on Saturday, we will know our fate. We have no control over other results so all we can do is focus on winning at the Sportsground in front of our supporters to give ourselves the best possible chance of qualification and to finish the season on a massive high.”
Steve Tandy (Ospreys) – “It was a good win (over Glasgow) at the Liberty last weekend to ensure that we go into the final day in first place, knowing that we have control of our own destiny. We aren’t reliant on others to do a job for us and that’s all you can ask for at this time of the season.
“That said, we know that we have a very tough 80 minutes ahead of us on Saturday against a very good team (in Connacht) who have their own prize to play for. If we aren’t at our best, we are well aware that we’ll be in trouble.
“Preparation this week has been no different to any other. The boys have been focused on the job in hand and know that if they are accurate, clinical in what they do and know their role properly, then that will allow us to build a performance to the level we need.
“It’s a good mental test for a young squad of players, ensuring the right habits and routines, allowing them to focus on performance. We know that there will be a lot going on elsewhere at the same time but as coaches and players, it’s important that we don’t allow ourselves to be distracted.
“All the different combinations won’t matter if we don’t do our job first and foremost. We have to control the areas that we can control, and not concern ourselves with whatever else happens away from the Sportsground.”
Top Scorers – 2014/15 GUINNESS PRO12: Connacht – Points: Jack Carty 73; Tries: Aly Muldowney, Matt Healy 5 each; Ospreys – Points: Dan Biggar 154; Tries: Rhys Webb 10
RECENT LEAGUE MEETINGS:
Saturday, November 26, 2011 – Connacht 6 Ospreys 17, the Sportsground
Saturday, October 27, 2012 – Ospreys 26 Connacht 9, Liberty Stadium
Friday, February 15, 2013 – Connacht 22 Ospreys 10, the Sportsground
Saturday, September 28, 2013 – Connacht 26 Ospreys 43, the Sportsground
Saturday, May 10, 2014 – Ospreys 45 Connacht 20, Liberty Stadium
Friday, October 31, 2014 – Ospreys 26 Connacht 11, Liberty Stadium
MATCH FACTS:
– It is likely that Connacht will have to win to keep alive their hopes of participating in the European top tier competition next season
– Their 40-10 victory over Zebre in Parma in round 21 earned the only bonus point of that entire round and stemmed a four-match losing run in the GUINNESS PRO12
– As it stands, the Ospreys require a bonus point win to guarantee themselves home field advantage in the play-offs
– The Welshmen are the form team in the competition having dropped only five possible league points from their last six encounters since being defeated 19-16 in Glasgow in round 15
– Connacht’s only triumph over the Ospreys in their last 13 fixtures since 2008 was 22-10 in Galway in February 2013, while the only occasion that the westerners have ever tallied up a try-scoring bonus point against the Welsh region was in the sides’ very first meeting at St. Helen’s, Swansea in October 2003
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