The week started with news of Pat Lam’s decision to leave for Bristol in the summer, but Connacht are determined to finish it with a big performance against Pool 2 rivals Wasps in the Champions Cup.
EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS CUP – POOL 2: Sunday, December 11
WASPS (2nd) v CONNACHT (1st), Ricoh Arena, 1pm (live Sky Sports 2 HD/beIN Sports/Galway Bay FM/RTÉ Radio 1/highlights TG4)
Team News: The Connacht team to face Wasps in round 3 of the Champions Cup at the Ricoh Arena on Sunday has been named. Head coach Pat Lam has made four personnel changes to the side that beat Benetton Treviso last weekend.
Recent Ireland debutant Niyi Adeolokun returns this week and starts on the right wing, shifting Cian Kelleher over to the left. Kieran Marmion also comes back in to start in the number 9 jersey, while Jack Carty is restored at out-half.
Up front, Ultan Dillane is set for his first game since international duty in the November series. Last week’s man-of-the-match, Tom McCartney, will earn his 50th Connacht cap when he runs out in Coventry on Sunday. Finlay Bealham and Peter Robb are both named among the replacements.
Commenting on the team selection and the round 3 showdown with Wasps, Lam said: “It’s great to see the return of our internationals who all contributed to a successful and historic autumn series for Ireland. They all add to the competition for places which is making our selection meetings even longer.
“The back-to-back window in Champions Cup is always the most testing and the draw hasn’t let us down with this match-up with an in-form Wasps side. They are flying high in the Premiership and have not lost a game at home in 2016.
“To be involved in this type of fixture is exactly what we worked so hard for last year. We are excited by the challenge and opportunity to test ourselves against one of the best teams in Europe.”
John Cooney was a late withdrawal from the side having suffered a minor quad strain in training this week, while his half-back partner last week, Marnitz Boshoff, is also on Connacht’s injury list after damaging his shoulder against Treviso.
Peter Robb, who was due to be a replacement back, pulled up with a minor hip injury on Friday afternoon. Returning winger Matt Healy, originally selected for Connacht ‘A’ duty, will wear the number 23 jersey instead of Robb.
The westerners’ other injured players at present are Ronan Loughney, Ivan Soroka, Conan O’Donnell, Ben Marshall, Andrew Browne, Eoghan Masterson, Shane O’Leary, Craig Ronaldson, Eoin Griffin, Josh Rowland and Darragh Leader.
As part of his new contract and release deal from Wasps, second row James Cannon is not permitted to play in the back-to-back Champions Cup matches against Wasps.
Meanwhile, Wallaby signing Kurtley Beale is set to make his Wasps and European Champions Cup debut in his comeback match following a seven-month injury lay-off.
Wasps are also boosted by the return of England internationals Joe Launchbury and Nathan Hughes, who are the only changes to the pack that started against Worcester Warriors last Sunday.
Christian Wade returns from a foot injury to start on the right wing, with Josh Bassett lining up on the left. Dan Robson and Jimmy Gopperth form the half back partnership, while Beale starts at inside centre, alongside Alapati Leiua, in a new midfield combination.
Rob Miller returns to his more familiar position of full-back, having impressed last week at out-half when he stood in for Danny Cipriani, who is still sidelined by a calf injury.
WASPS: Rob Miller; Christian Wade, Alapati Leiua, Kurtley Beale, Josh Bassett; Jimmy Gopperth, Dan Robson; Matt Mullan, Tommy Taylor, Martin Moore, Joe Launchbury (capt), Kearnan Myall, Ashley Johnson, Thomas Young, Nathan Hughes.
Replacements: Alex Rieder, Tom Bristow, Jake Cooper-Woolley, James Gaskell, Guy Thompson, Joe Simpson, Brendan Macken, Frank Halai.
CONNACHT: Tiernan O’Halloran; Niyi Adeolokun, Stacey Ili, Bundee Aki, Cian Kelleher; Jack Carty, Kieran Marmion; Denis Buckley, Tom McCartney, Conor Carey, Ultan Dillane, Quinn Roux, Nepia Fox-Matamua, Jake Heenan, John Muldoon (capt).
Replacements: Dave Heffernan, JP Cooney, Finlay Bealham, Sean O’Brien, Eoin McKeon, Caolin Blade, Rory Parata, Matt Healy.
Referee: Alexandre Ruiz (France)
Assistant Referees: Cedric Marchat, Cedric Clave (both France)
Television Match Official: Philippe Bonhoure (France)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Wasps to win: 1/9; Draw: 30/1; Connacht to win: 11/2
Pre-Match Quotes: Tiernan O’Halloran (Connacht) – “Naturally enough Monday (and the announcement that Pat Lam is leaving at the end of the season) was a bit of shock to all of us. Obviously none of us had heard anything. It was a big shock.
“But it was more an appreciation for what Pat has done. The stuff he has done for this province since he came here both on and off the pitch. And personally he has helped me on and off the pitch. And as individuals as well, you can see everyone, their games have gone on so much and just makes us, collectively, a very strong team. We have a good balance in the squad now. There is enough experienced players in the squad to know that it’s not something that we can dwell on.
“It’s obviously big news but with a Champions Cup game against one of the biggest in Europe on Sunday…you can’t force that, you can’t let that sink in. We have that balance of experience. And then you have the other side of it where you have young lads who could probably go out and play Test match rugby tomorrow, and it wouldn’t faze them at all.
“All you have to do is look at Bundee (Aki), Ultan (Dillane) and Finlay (Bealham) signing on. They’re three of the biggest players in the squad and they’re committing their future to the province and it’s a massive sign of intent.
“It gives positivity to everyone then, Bundee was a big one. Lads were a bit worried that if Bundee left we’d be light in the centre and would lose that leadership role as well. To have those guys signed on means a lot, it just drives us all on and we know we have good security here.
“We’re all in this together, we want to work together as a team. It’s the nature of rugby, people are going to come and go. It’s what happened with Robbie (Henshaw) last year, but you have to get over it and other lads will step in and do a job.”
Martin Moore (Wasps) – “I’ve played a lot of times against Connacht and I don’t think I’ve played in a game that hasn’t been extremely physical or that has ended with a wider margin of around three to five points either way.
“They’re always tight games, regardless of who comes out on top they’re in the game for 80 minutes. It’s a physical encounter and that’s the basis for everything, you have to win that battle.
“Looking at their players, I’ve played with a lot of them coming up through the age groups at various stages, they can hurt teams. I think half of their tries have started in their own half of the field so they’re a very dangerous side. It’s probably a bit of a different beast to a lot of PRO12 teams in their structure and the way they hold on to and retain the ball for long periods of time to break teams down.
“It’s always an interesting one. Week one (of these back-to-back matches) you are going into the unknown a little bit, but week two you know what’s coming down the tracks and it comes down purely to who wants it more. You’re not going to catch anyone on the hop, you know what to expect and it puts a lot more emphasis on details.
“It’s always nice I think to start these double headers at home. It’s obviously psychological, but it’s always nice not to be on the road for the first game of a double header. The Ricoh Arena has been very good to us so far this season and we’re all looking forward to Sunday and starting the back-to-back games on the right foot.”
Current Form – Wasps – (Aviva Premiership): Won 25-20 v Exeter Chiefs (home), Won 34-22 v Leicester Tigers (away), Won 70-22 v Bristol (home), Won 20-15 v Northampton Saints (away), Won 47-18 v Harlequins (home), Lost 30-14 v Saracens (away); (Champions Cup): Won 82-14 v Zebre (home), Drew 20-20 v Toulouse (away); (Aviva Premiership): Won 31-6 v Newcastle Falcons (home); (Anglo-Welsh Cup): Lost 17-13 v Sale Sharks (away), Won 62-10 v Worcester Warriors (home); (Aviva Premiership): Lost 36-18 v Gloucester (away), Won 34-24 v Sale Sharks (home), Won 26-12 v Worcester Warriors (away)
Connacht – (GUINNESS PRO12): Lost 41-5 v Glasgow Warriors (home), Lost 32-11 v Ospreys (home), Lost 17-8 v Scarlets (away), Won 28-15 v Edinburgh (home), Won 30-25 v Ulster (home); (Champions Cup): Won 23-21 v Toulouse (home), Won 52-7 v Zebre (away); (GUINNESS PRO12): Lost 24-13 v Leinster (away), Lost 21-16 v Newport Gwent Dragons (away), Won 18-7 v Cardiff Blues (home), Won 47-8 v Benetton Treviso (home)
Top Scorers – 2016/17 European Champions Cup: Wasps – Points: Jimmy Gopperth 20; Tries: Rob Miller, Joe Simpson, Josh Bassett 2 each; Connacht – Points: Stacey Ili 15; Tries: Stacey Ili 3
Previous European Meetings: 0
European Cup Records:
Wasps –
2015/16: Reached the semi-finals
2014/15: Reached the quarter-finals
2010/11: Failed to qualify from Pool 6
2008/09: Failed to qualify from Pool 2
2007/08: Failed to qualify from Pool 5
2006/07: Champions
2005/06: Failed to qualify from Pool 6
2004/05: Failed to qualify from Pool 1
2003/04: Champions
2001/02: Failed to qualify from Pool 2
2000/01: Failed to qualify from Pool 2
1999/00: Reached the quarter-finals
1997/98: Reached the quarter-finals
1996/97: Failed to qualify from Pool D
Connacht –
2013/14: Failed to qualify from Pool 3
2012/13: Failed to qualify from Pool 3
2011/12: Failed to qualify from Pool 6
This website uses cookies.
Read More