Celtic League: Vital Victory Needed For Connacht

Having not won a Celtic League tie at the Sportsground since November, Connacht will be hoping their historical edge over 2005 champions the Ospreys will see them succeed on Sunday.

CELTIC LEAGUE: Week 20: Sunday, April 10
Connacht v Neath-Swansea Ospreys, The Sportsground, 4.45pm (live Setanta Sports Ireland)

Coach Michael Bradley – who was interviewed for the soon-to-be-vacated Munster post on Tuesday – has named a 23-man squad for the trip across the Irish sea.

His one fitness concern is experienced centre Darren Yapp, who was forced off at half-time against Sale last Saturday with a hamstring injury, and is very doubtful.

Fellow centre James Downey, formerly of Leinster, has been declared fit nonetheless after missing the last two months with a broken collar-bone.

A win for Connacht – in what is veteran fly-half Eric Elwood’s final home outing of his 17-year career with the province – would see them in good stead for a Heineken Cup qualification play-off tie with the third-ranked Italian side next month.

On the Ospreys side, Wales centre Gavin Henson needs just nine more points to become the first player in Celtic League history to score 500 points.

Elwood – who has yet to score a try in four seasons of Celtic competiton – is just seven points shy of the 300-point mark.

Ospreys coach Lyn Jones admitted: “We have never beaten Connacht at home or away, so that in itself provides more than enough motivation for Sunday’s match. We will be looking to lay that record to rest.

“There is a lot of talk about us doing other Welsh regions a favour but we are in the business of winning games and that issue will not be in our thoughts,” added Jones, who has included Welsh stars Henson and Shane Williams in his 23-man squad.

* To mark Eric Elwood’s final home game for Connacht, supporters will be able to buy ground tickets for 10 (reduced from 15), OAP and student tickets for 5, and children will be admitted for free. Enclosed stand tickets are available for 20.

Head-to-head since 2003: Connacht 3, Ospreys 0
League form: Connacht: LWLWL; Ospreys: DWWWW
Top scorers: Connacht: Paul Warwick 108 points / Matt Lacey 5 tries; Ospreys: Gavin Henson 163 / Jason Spice 8

CONNACHT Squad:

Forwards: Adrian Clarke, Ray Hogan, Stephen Knoop, John Fogarty, Bernard Jackman, Christian Short, Mick Carroll, Andrew Farley (Capt), Matt Lacey, Brendan O’Connor, John O’Sullivan, Michael Swift.

Backs: Matt Mostyn, Conor McPhillips, Ted Robinson, David Slemen, James Downey, Mark McHugh, Darren Yapp, Paul Warwick, Eric Elwood, Chris Keane, Mike Walls.

Ospreys Squad:

Forwards: Duncan Jones, Paul James, Richard Hibbard, Barry Williams (Capt), Andrew Millward, Adam Jones, Brent Cockbain, Andrew Newman, Jonathan Thomas, Ryan Jones, Richard Pugh, James Bater, Steve Tandy.

Backs: Stefan Terblanche, Richard Mustoe, David Bishop, Sonny Parker, Gavin Henson, Andrew Bishop, Shane Williams, Matthew Jones, Jason Spice, Richard Rees.

Referee: Ian Heard (Scotland)