Categories: Connacht Main News Provincial URC

Connacht Call On Carty, Dillane And McKeon

Head coach Pat Lam has made three personnel changes to his Connacht team to face Glasgow Warriors at the Sportsground on Saturday afternoon (kick-off 1.05pm).

Athlone man Jack Carty will start at out-half in an otherwise unchanged back-line that sees Robbie Henshaw and Bundee Aki link up in the centre for the fifth time.

Up front, Academy lock Ultan Dillane, who will be promoted to the senior squad next season, has been called in to partner Aly Muldowney in the second row. Galway man Eoin McKeon is recalled to the back row to join captain John Muldoon and recent Player of the Month award winner Eoghan Masterson.

From the replacements bench, Sportsground favourite George Naoupu is in line to make his 100th appearance in a Connacht jersey.

Commenting on the clash with the table-topping Warriors, Pat Lam said: “You could say this is our toughest game of the season with who we are up against and what is on the line. We understand the massive importance of Saturday but we have prepared like we would every game. It’s up to us to go out and perform as a team.

“Glasgow are the league leaders for a reason. They are a well-coached side with huge depth in their squad of internationals and they are the number one offloading team who can score plenty of tries. So defensively, we will have to be spot on.

“It’s a huge challenge but we’re really excited by it and the fact that we’re at home makes it even more special. The Connacht support has been huge all year. They have carried us home in these big games before and with so much riding on the game, it’s great to know that they’ll be behind us again this weekend.”

CONNACHT (v Glasgow Warriors): Tiernan O’Halloran; Danie Poolman, Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki, Matt Healy; Jack Carty, Kieran Marmion; Denis Buckley, Tom McCartney, Rodney Ah You, Ultan Dillane, Aly Muldowney, John Muldoon (capt), Eoghan Masterson, Eoin McKeon.

Replacements: Shane Delahunt, Ronan Loughney, Finlay Bealham, Andrew Browne, George Naoupu, John Cooney, Miah Nikora, Darragh Leader.