Connacht Choose Squad For Ospreys trip

Connacht coach Michael Bradley has named a 25-man squad for Sunday’s Magners League meeting with the Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium (kick-off 5pm).

Experienced full-back Gavin Duffy, who impressed for the Ireland Wolfhounds in their recent win over Scotland ‘A’, will hope to carry that form into Connacht’s next stretch of games.

Michael Bradley is looking for his side to find some consistency, with upcoming home games against Glasgow Warriors and the Newport Gwent Dragons.

Thanks to their qualification for the Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-finals, Connacht come into Sunday’s game having won four of their last five matches.

Hoping to end their run of 14 successive Magners League losses on the road, Bradley said: “We have struggled in the dressing room afterwards trying to figure out how we didn’t win or get something out of it, but we are getting very close.

“We know that if manage to do what we can do well, what we have done at home and in the Amlin Challenge Cup, we will get the wins. It is the consistency that is bothering us.”

As well as Duffy, Connacht have Keith Matthews, Fionn Carr, John Muldoon, Sean Cronin and Ian Keatley back from the recent run of games for the Ireland ‘A’ side.

Hooker Cronin is in contention to replace the suspended Jerry Flannery in the Ireland squad for Saturday week’s RBS 6 Nations clash with England. 

CONNACHT Squad (v Ospreys) – Backs (12): Liam Bibo, Fionn Carr, Kieran Campbell, Gavin Duffy, Ian Keatley, Keith Matthews, Frank Murphy, Troy Nathan, Miah Nikora, Conor O’Loughlin, Niva Ta’auso, Aidan Wynne.

Forwards (13): Sean Cronin, Adrian Flavin, Jamie Hagan, Mike McCarthy, Mike McComish, Robbie Morris, John Muldoon, George Naoupu, Ray Ofisa, Johnny O’Connor, Michael Swift, Bernie Upton, Brett Wilkinson.