Connacht really need to embark on a strong pre-Christmas run in the GUINNESS PRO12, with the defending champions currently languishing in 10th place – a full 15 points away from the play-off zone.
GUINNESS PRO12: Friday, November 25
CONNACHT (10th) v CARDIFF BLUES (7th), the Sportsground, 7.35pm (live TG4/Galway Bay FM)
Team News: Connacht trio Denis Buckley, Tom McCartney and John Cooney have all returned from injury to take their places in the province’s team for tonight’s GUINNESS PRO12 clash with Cardiff Blues.
Buckley will run out at the Sportsground for his 100th Connacht appearance and his first game in two months, packing down with the returning McCartney and tighthead Conor Carey.
James Cannon makes his first Connacht and PRO12 start alongside Ireland international Quinn Roux in the second row. The back row, with captain John Muldoon at number 8, remains unchanged from the last round with flankers Eoin McKeon and Jake Heenan both starting.
Less than two weeks after making his Ireland debut against Canada, winger Niyi Adeolokun is back on provincial duty in a pacey back-three with full-back Cian Kelleher and Stacey Ili. Craig Ronaldson partners Bundee Aki in midfield, while October Player of the Month and out-half Jack Carty is joined by Cooney on his seasonal bow.
The most notable inclusion among the replacements is Marnitz Boshoff. The South African is in line to make his Connacht debut having arrived in Ireland last month following his commitments in the Currie Cup competition. Ronan Loughney and Nepia Fox-Matamua also return from injury to take their places in the matchday squad.
Meanwhile, young flanker Ellis Jenkins captains Cardiff Blues as a host of first team regulars return to face Connacht in round 9.
Head coach Danny Wilson has made a total of 13 changes to the side that lost 31-7 to the Ospreys in the Anglo-Welsh Cup last Friday as attention turns back to Championship action.
Blaine Scully and Rey Lee-Lo return following their international exploits with the USA and Samoa respectively, and are joined in the back-line by scrum half Tomos Williams, who has been released by Wales, along with Alex Cuthbert.
Rhys Gill, Kristian Dacey and Scott Andrews have also been made available to start in the front row, while Josh Navidi has recovered from injury to start at number 8.
CONNACHT: Cian Kelleher; Niyi Adeolokun, Bundee Aki, Craig Ronaldson, Stacey Ili; Jack Carty, John Cooney; Denis Buckley, Tom McCartney, Conor Carey, Quinn Roux, James Cannon, Eoin McKeon, Jake Heenan, John Muldoon (capt).
Replacements: Dave Heffernan, Ronan Loughney, JP Cooney, Lewis Stevenson, Nepia Fox-Matamua, Caolin Blade, Marnitz Boshoff, Danie Poolman.
CARDIFF BLUES: Dan Fish; Blaine Scully, Rey Lee-Lo, Willis Halaholo, Tom James; Steve Shingler, Tomos Williams; Rhys Gill, Kristian Dacey, Scott Andrews, George Earle, Jarrad Hoeata, Josh Turnbull, Ellis Jenkins (capt), Josh Navidi.
Replacements: Matthew Rees, Brad Thyer, Taufa’ao Filise, Macauley Cook, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Rhodri Davies, Alex Cuthbert, Matthew Morgan.
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant Referees: Simon Rees (Wales), John Carvill (Ireland)
Television Match Official: Charles Samson (Scotland)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Connacht to win: 4/11; Draw: 25/1; Cardiff Blues to win: 12/5
Pre-Match Quotes: Pat Lam (Connacht) – “The break in games has been extremely beneficial as we have been able to get some players back from injury and work on improving our game.
“We really enjoy playing Cardiff as they are always a tough challenge. Our games always go right down to the wire. We will have to be on our game as their away form is very good this season.
“We know we have to improve on our last outing (against the Dragons) to get the points on offer, so being back at the Sportsground after a long break is a major boost. The atmosphere will once again be electric as it’s all set to be a full house, which is fantastic on an international weekend.”
Danny Wilson (Cardiff Blues) – “It’s the start of ‘block two’ for us now that includes games against Connacht, Ulster, Bath twice, the Dragons and Scarlets over Christmas. It’s a huge block.
“Block one was 10 games of rugby, including two in Europe, and we won seven out of ten games. It was a period that was relatively successful. The disappointments were the couple of derbies we didn’t perform to a level we wanted to.
“We now have an opportunity to go to Connacht, the champions, and it would be great for us to pick up a win that we haven’t had there in a while.
“Having said that, we hadn’t won at Treviso, Munster or Zebre in a while and we managed to do that. We will be looking for another away win, but we know it doesn’t get any tougher than Connacht.”
Top Scorers – 2016/17 GUINNESS PRO12: Connacht – Points: Jack Carty 45; Tries: Niyi Adeolokun 4; Cardiff Blues – Points: Steve Shingler 52; Tries: Tom James 5
2016/17 TEAM FORM: Connacht – Played 7, Won 2, Lost 5, 11 Points; L 41-5 v Glasgow Warriors (home), L 32-11 v Ospreys (home), L 17-8 v Scarlets (away), W 28-15 v Edinburgh (home), W 30-25 v Ulster (home), L 24-13 v Leinster (away), L 21-16 v Newport Gwent Dragons (away); Cardiff Blues – Played 8, Won 5, Lost 3, 22 Points; W 34-16 v Edinburgh (home), W 24-23 v Munster (away), W 23-19 v Glasgow Warriors (home), W 23-21 v Zebre (away), L 16-13 v Leinster (home), L 46-24 v Ospreys (away), L 26-15 v Scarlets (home), W 34-28 v Benetton Treviso (away)
RECENT LEAGUE MEETINGS:
Friday, September 13, 2013 – Cardiff Blues 21 Connacht 10, Cardiff Arms Park
Saturday, May 3, 2014 – Connacht 15 Cardiff Blues 22, the Sportsground
Friday, October 3, 2014 – Connacht 24 Cardiff Blues 24, the Sportsground
Friday, March 6, 2015 – Cardiff Blues 18 Connacht 17, BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park
Saturday, October 3, 2015 – Connacht 36 Cardiff Blues 31, the Sportsground
Friday, December 4, 2016 – Cardiff Blues 20 Connacht 16, BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park
MATCH FACTS:
– Connacht have won just two games in the GUINNESS PRO12 this season, both at home to Edinburgh and Ulster in rounds 5 and 6 – the only occasions they have scored four tries
– Connacht have already been defeated by the other three Welsh regions this season
– Cardiff Blues’ 34-28 victory in Treviso in round 8 ended a three-match losing run in the PRO12
– The Blues’ only away loss in the Championship since March came when they visited the Ospreys on October 7
– Cardiff Blues’ lone defeat to Connacht in their last six encounters was 36-31 at the Sportsground in this equivalent fixture in round 3 last season
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