Hooker Heffernan To Start For Connacht
Head coach Pat Lam has made four personnel changes to his side for the final game of his first season in charge at Connacht.
The westerners travel to Liberty Stadium on Saturday evening to face the fifth-placed Ospreys (kick-off 6.30pm). A win over the Welsh outfit would ensure Connacht equal their best ever league finish of eighth.
Up front, David Heffernan will make first start of the season in Connacht colours, replacing the injured Jason Harris-Wright.
The Mayo-born 23-year-old has made 11 appearances off the bench in this PRO12 campaign, scoring a last-minute try against Munster at Thomond Park.
Heffernan is joined in the front row by loosehead prop Denis Buckley, whose introduction to the starting line-up sees Ronan Loughney switch to tighthehead while Rodney Ah You, who has featured in every game this season, drops back to the replacements bench.
Andrew Browne will line out at blindside flanker with fellow Galway man and captain John Muldoon shifting to number 8.
Openside Conor Gilsenan earns his second PRO12 start for Connacht after his starting debut last weekend as a late replacement for the injured Willie Faloon.
Aly Muldowney and Michael Kearney retain their positions in the second row, completing the province’s all-Irish pack.
In the back-line there is a reshuffle in midfield as David McSharry returns at inside centre and Eoin Griffin moves outside him. Robbie Henshaw, who will be joining up with the squad late on Saturday morning due to a family commitment, is named among the reserve backs.
On the bench, Academy scrum half Caolin Blade is included in the senior matchday squad for the first time. The 20-year-old has just completed his first year in the Nigel Carolan-led Academy.
The Monivea man has been involved with Ireland at underage level and this year has put in some impressive performances with the Connacht Eagles.
Jack Dinneen, the 19-year-old sub-Academy hooker, gets a spot on the bench once again after earning his first senior cap against Munster at the Sportsground last month.
Commenting on Connacht’s last outing of the season, Pat Lam said: “The Ospreys will of course be hurting from the fact that they didn’t make the play-offs after a very good season. With the defeat to Zebre last week, they will want to finish off their season with a good win in front of their home fans.
“Playing them in their back yard has always been a challenge for us. We haven’t won over there in ten years. No one will give us a chance but it’s up to us to change the record.
“We spoke this week about not seeing this as just our last game. It is another time we pull on the Connacht jersey with pride and a huge opportunity to improve ourselves and finish the season as high up as we can.”
CONNACHT (v Ospreys): Darragh Leader; Danie Poolman, Eoin Griffin, David McSharry, Matt Healy; Miah Nikora, Kieran Marmion; Denis Buckley, David Heffernan, Ronan Loughney, Aly Muldowney, Michael Kearney, Andrew Browne, Conor Gilsenan, John Muldoon (capt).
Replacements: Jack Dinneen, Finlay Bealham, Rodney Ah You, Michael Swift, Eoin McKeon, Caolin Blade, Dan Parks, Robbie Henshaw.