The highlight of the Easter weekend’s rugby must be the meeting of the GUINNESS PRO12’s leading two teams – Connacht and Leinster – with the winners in Galway assured to go top of the table.
GUINNESS PRO12: Saturday, March 26
CONNACHT (1st) v LEINSTER (2nd), the Sportsground, 5.15pm (live Sky Sports 1 HD/TG4)
Team News: Ahead of Saturday’s sold-out interprovincial clash with Leinster at the Sportsground, Connacht head coach Pat Lam has made two changes to the team that lined out for the win over Edinburgh three weeks ago.
Academy centre Peter Robb is handed his first GUINNESS PRO12 start and partners Bundee Aki in midfield. The 21-year-old Robb made his Connacht debut in November in the Challenge Cup game away to Russian side Enisei-STM. Saturday’s game will mark his tenth appearance in a Connacht jersey.
Niyi Adeolokun returns to the right wing after missing the Edinburgh match through injury and is the only other personnel change to the westerners’ line-up. The half-back pairing is once again made up of AJ MacGinty and Kieran Marmion, who made his Six Nations debut earlier this month.
The pack sees Ireland international Nathan White, who featured in all five Six Nations fixtures, pack down in the front row, while the 21-year-old Sean O’Brien from the Academy is again included in the back row with Jake Heenan and captain John Muldoon.
Internationals Robbie Henshaw, who only joined team training on Thursday, and Finlay Bealham are both named among the replacements. Front rower Bealham, who has featured in every Connacht game this season, is in line to make his 50th appearance for the province.
Connacht’s injury list currently includes both Jack Carty and Craig Ronaldson, while recent Ireland debutant Ultan Dillane has not yet recovered from a minor shoulder knock picked up during the Six Nations.
Meanwhile, for the trip to Galway, Leinster boss Leo Cullen is able to call on 12 players who were involved in the matchday and extended squads with Ireland last weekend against Scotland in the Six Nations.
He is also able to bring back in the fit-again Luke Fitzgerald who returns for this first time since January to make his 150th appearance for the province.
With Fergus McFadden resuming on the right wing, captain Isa Nacewa, who makes his 100th PRO12 appearance on Saturday, reverts to full-back with Fitzgerald taking up the number 11 jersey.
Ben Te’o and Garry Ringrose continue in midfield and Luke McGrath starts again at scrum half with Ian Madigan joining him at half-back.
Cian Healy comes in at loosehead prop with Richardt Strauss starting at hooker, and young tightheadTadhg Furlong completes the front row.
Behind them, Ross Molony and Hayden Triggs will combine in the second row, while in the back row Dominic Ryan starts at blindside flanker with Josh van der Flier and Rhys Ruddock back from Ireland duty to complete the pack.
Sean Cronin, Jack McGrath, Mike Ross, Devin Toner, Jamie Heaslip and Eoin Reddan are all included on the bench, alongside fellow Ireland international Noel Reid and Springbok Zane Kirchner.
CONNACHT: Tiernan O’Halloran; Niyi Adeolokun, Bundee Aki, Peter Robb, Matt Healy; AJ MacGinty, Kieran Marmion; Denis Buckley, Tom McCartney, Nathan White, Quinn Roux, Aly Muldowney, Sean O’Brien, Jake Heenan, John Muldoon (capt).
Replacements: Dave Heffernan, Ronan Loughney, Finlay Bealham, Andrew Browne, Eoin McKeon, Caolin Blade, Shane O’Leary, Robbie Henshaw.
LEINSTER: Isa Nacewa (capt); Fergus McFadden, Garry Ringrose, Ben Te’o, Luke Fitzgerald; Ian Madigan, Luke McGrath; Cian Healy, Richardt Strauss, Tadhg Furlong, Ross Molony, Hayden Triggs, Dominic Ryan, Josh van der Flier, Rhys Ruddock.
Replacements: Sean Cronin, Jack McGrath, Mike Ross, Devin Toner, Jamie Heaslip, Eoin Reddan, Noel Reid, Zane Kirchner.
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant Referees: Peter Fitzgibbon, Stuart Gaffikin (both Ireland)
Television Match Official: Olly Hodges (Ireland)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Connacht to win: 13/10; Draw: 17/1; Leinster to win: 4/6
Pre-Match Quotes: Pat Lam (Connacht) – “I have a lot of respect for who Leinster are and what they have achieved. There is a lot of quality right across the squad and I believe Leo (Cullen), in his first season as head coach, has done a tremendous job.
“On Saturday we are expecting a pretty physical and fired-up opposition. As a team who have history of winning at this stage of the season, it’s going to take a massive collective effort from us to come out on top.
“There’s certainly a huge buzz around this game and we’re all really looking forward to it – it doesn’t get much better than playing in front of a sold-out Sportsground. Staying focused and channeling that excitement and energy into our structures and systems will give us the best chance of getting the points on offer.”
Ross Molony (Leinster) – “You don’t want to just give the jersey back to them (the returning internationals). You want to keep fighting. Now that they’re back the competition only gets greater. It’s so important that you keep the same standards and you keep driving them.
“There’s always pressure on you in training to perform and keep putting your hand up for selection. They are coming back from an Irish set-up, so you’d imagine the standard is going to increase. But it’s just all about yourself, driving yourself to be the best you can in training.
“Connacht are a very physical pack – they’re going to target taking us on up front. Playing at home in The Sportsground will be huge for them. They’ll get the crowd behind them.
“I think these next games (against Connacht and Munster) are crucial for us in terms of finishing the season on a high. In terms of my own view on the season, I’m delighted to get the opportunity. You’re always looking to get better as a player.”
Top Scorers – 2015/16 GUINNESS PRO12: Connacht – Points: Craig Ronaldson 89; Tries: Matt Healy 9; Leinster – Points: Isa Nacewa 78; Tries: Isa Nacewa 7
RECENT LEAGUE MEETINGS:
Saturday, December 29, 2012 – Leinster 17 Connacht 0, the RDS
Saturday, October 26, 2013 – Leinster 16 Connacht 13, the RDS
Saturday, January 4, 2014 – Connacht 8 Leinster 16, the Sportsground
Friday, September 19, 2014 – Connacht 10 Leinster 9, the Sportsground
Friday, December 19, 2014 – Leinster 21 Connacht 11, the RDS
Friday, January 1, 2016 – Leinster 13 Connacht 0, the RDS
MATCH FACTS:
– Connacht have won their last six matches in all tournaments, five of those with maximum points
– Connacht’s only loss at the Sportsground in any competition this season was 10-3 to Ulster in the PRO12 on December 26
– Leinster’s four-match winning run in the PRO12 ended in Glasgow last Friday in the rearranged round 9 fixture
– The Leinstermen have won all three matches they have played against fellow Irish provinces this season
– Leinster have lost just once to Connacht in their last six encounters: 10-9 in Galway in this equivalent fixture in round 3 last season
This website uses cookies.
Read More