Connacht Name Squad For Montpellier Showdown
Connacht coach Michael Bradley has finalised his squad for Friday’s big Amlin Challenge Cup Pool 2 clash with Montpellier at the Sportsground (kick-off 7pm).
Prop forward Brett Wilkinson has been passed fit to play after recovering from a hand injury and Connacht coach Michael Bradley has named a 23-man squad for the Amlin Challenge Cup encounter.
Full-back Gavin Duffy is unavailable due to a cracked cheekbone but otherwise Connacht have a very strong hand to play from.
Ahead of the team announcement on Thursday, the westerners’ captain John Muldoon said: “The whole lot (qualification for the quarter-finals) hinges on Friday. It comes down to defeating Montpellier or it will all be lost. Hopefully, we will have a big crowd on Friday night.
“French teams always make it difficult down there. They boo everything you do and get behind their own side. We need the crowd to get Connacht across the line on Friday night.
“Our support has been growing all the time and we have not always delivered for them so it would be great to have a quarter-final to look forward to in April.”
Connacht are sitting pretty at the top of Pool 2 at the moment. Their four wins from four outings has garnered them 17 points, but Montpellier are only two points adrift so the sides’ respective seasons could hinge on their round 5 meeting in Galway.
CONNACHT Squad (v Montpellier) – Backs (10): Liam Bibo, Fionn Carr, Ian Keatley, Troy Nathan, Miah Nikora, Keith Matthews, Frank Murphy, Conor O’Loughlin, Niva Ta’auso, Aidan Wynne.
Forwards (13): Andrew Browne, Sean Cronin, Adrain Flavin, Jamie Hagan, Ronan Loughney, George Naoupu, Mike McCarthy, Robbie Morris, John Muldoon, Ray Ofisa, Michael Swift, Bernie Upton, Brett Wilkinson.