Connacht Team Bolstered By Returning Players
Connacht head coach Pat Lam has named his team to face Toulouse in Sunday’s final pool game of the Champions Cup at Stade Ernest Wallon (kick-off 4.15pm local time/3.15pm Irish time).
There are five personnel changes to the side that lined out at the Sportsground in the bonus point win over Zebre six days ago.
Jack Carty has recovered from injury to take the reins at out-half, while Peter Robb also returns to form a new centre partnership with Craig Ronaldson.
Up front, Ireland international Quinn Roux comes in having missed out last week. The back row is also boosted by the return from injury of flankers Nepia Fox-Matamua and Jake Heenan.
Commenting on the crunch round 6 encounter with Toulouse, Pat Lam said: “We are aware of the phenomenal challenge that awaits us in Toulouse on Sunday but these are the sort of games that you want to be a part of. It’s an opportunity, as a player and as a team, to put in a performance on the big stage.
“While the right outcome would be massive for Irish Rugby, the focus remains on executing our game-plan in a pressure environment to get us the win we need.”
The province’s current list of injured/unavailable players includes Conor Carey, Ivan Soroka, Conan O’Donnell, Ultan Dillane, Andrew Browne, Ben Marshall, Marnitz Boshoff, Shane O’Leary, Stacey Ili, Bundee Aki, Eoin Griffin, Cormac Brennan, Cian Kelleher, Darragh Leader and Josh Rowland.
CONNACHT (v Toulouse): Tiernan O’Halloran; Niyi Adeolokun, Peter Robb, Craig Ronaldson, Matt Healy; Jack Carty, Kieran Marmion; Denis Buckley, Tom McCartney, Finlay Bealham, Quinn Roux, James Cannon, Nepia Fox-Matamua, Jake Heenan, John Muldoon (capt).
Replacements: Dave Heffernan, JP Cooney, John Andress, Sean O’Brien, Naulia Dawai, John Cooney, Tom Farrell, Danie Poolman.