Connacht head coach Pat Lam is expecting a ‘big improvement’ from his charges as they look to bounce back from their heavy beating by Glasgow Warriors by overcoming the Ospreys in Galway.
GUINNESS PRO12: Saturday, September 10
CONNACHT (11th) v OSPREYS (1st), the Sportsground, 7.35pm (live TG4/S4C)
Team News: The Connacht team to face the Ospreys in round 2 of the GUINNESS PRO12 has been named and features four changes to the side that lost heavily to Glasgow Warriors last weekend.
For Saturday night’s match at the Sportsground, Ireland internationals Tiernan O’Halloran and Kieran Marmion come into the back-line. The Galway-born full-back is set for his first appearance for Connacht since making his Ireland debut in South Africa three months ago.
Ronan Loughney packs down in the front row and Academy graduate James Connolly starts alongside Eoin McKeon and captain John Muldoon in the back row.
Forwards Dominic Robertson-McCoy and Rory Moloney are in line to make their Connacht debuts from the bench, while Danie Poolman is included among the replacement backs.
Meanwhile, Ospreys boss Steve Tandy has made three changes in personnel to the team that hammered Zebre 59-5 in Swansea last time out.
Ashley Beck is out with a hip injury, so Ben John joins Josh Matavesi in midfield. Wales scrum half Rhys Webb returns to captain the side from half-back, while the final switch sees international lock Bradley Davies make his competitive debut for the region, taking over from the benched Lloyd Ashley.
CONNACHT: Tiernan O’Halloran; Niyi Adeolokun, Eoin Griffin, Bundee Aki, Matt Healy; Jack Carty, Kieran Marmion; Ronan Loughney, Tom McCartney, Finlay Bealham, Ultan Dillane, Daniel Qualter, Eoin McKeon, James Connolly, John Muldoon (capt).
Replacements: Dave Heffernan, Dominic Robertson-McCoy, JP Cooney, Lewis Stevenson, Rory Moloney, Caolin Blade, Shane O’Leary, Danie Poolman.
OSPREYS: Dan Evans; Jeff Hassler, Ben John, Josh Matavesi, Eli Walker; Sam Davies, Rhys Webb (capt); Nicky Smith, Sam Parry, Dmitri Arhip, Bradley Davies, Rory Thornton, Olly Cracknell, Justin Tipuric, Tyler Ardron.
Replacements: Scott Baldwin, Paul James, Ma’afu Fia, Lloyd Ashley, James King, Dan Baker, Tom Habberfield, Dafydd Howells.
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
Assistant Referees: Claudio Blessano (Italy), Leo Colgan (Ireland)
Television Match Official: Alan Falzone (Italy)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Connacht to win: Evens; Draw: 20/1; Ospreys to win: 10/11
Pre-Match Quotes: Pat Lam (Connacht) – “Following a few injuries and knocks from last week, we’ve obviously made some changes to the starting team for Saturday. With Caolin (Blade) and Cian (Kelleher) unable to train fully all week, it’s fortunate that we’re able to bring in the experience of Kieran and Tiernan, two Connacht centurions.
“The Ospreys will be another big challenge for us and will come here determined and confident after their impressive win over Zebre in round 1.
“It’s been a tough week with a lot of honesty and ‘learnings’ for us as a team. I have no doubt that with another game under our belt, we will see a big improvement this weekend.”
Steve Tandy (Ospreys) – “We made a promising start (against Zebre) last weekend but that’s all it is, a start. It was good to see the positive intent, we showed the right attitude, and were pretty relentless, not only in the way we killed the game off very early, but keeping going for the 80 minutes, creating and taking opportunities.
“Connacht are champions for a reason. They have good players, are a well-coached unit, and everybody knows that the Sportsground is a tough, challenging environment. It’s hostile, the crowd is on top of you, and the weather conditions, which they know so well, always plays a part.
“Last weekend’s result against Glasgow wasn’t an accurate reflection of how Connacht played, I thought they were particularly good in the first half, and what it means is they will be more fired up than ever on Saturday night.
“With three of the next four games out in Ireland, we know it’s a tough period for us, but we see it as a real opportunity to test ourselves and are looking forward to kicking it off in Galway.”
Top Scorers – 2016/17 GUINNESS PRO12: Connacht – Points: Niyi Adeolokun 5; Tries: Niyi Adeolokun 1; Ospreys – Points: Sam Davies 19; Tries: Sam Parry 3
RECENT LEAGUE MEETINGS:
Saturday, September 28, 2013 – Connacht 26 Ospreys 43, the Sportsground
Saturday, May 10, 2014 – Ospreys 45 Connacht 20, Liberty Stadium
Friday, October 31, 2014 – Ospreys 26 Connacht 11, Liberty Stadium
Saturday, May 16, 2015 – Connacht 20 Ospreys 24, the Sportsground
Saturday, October 24, 2015 – Ospreys 16 Connacht 24, Liberty Stadium
Saturday, February 27, 2016 – Connacht 30 Ospreys 22, the Sportsground
MATCH FACTS:
– Connacht were defeated in round 1 by Glasgow Warriors at the Sportsground – the only previous GUINNESS PRO12 champions to have begun their defence with a pair of defeats was the Ospreys in both 2007/08 and 2012/13
– Connacht have not lost successive matches in Galway since the end of the 2014/15 season
– The Ospreys have lost just one of their last five PRO12 fixtures: 46-26 at home to Ulster in round 22 last season
– During the last campaign, the Ospreys won just one of their eight clashes with Irish provinces: 21-17 against Munster in Cork
– Connacht achieved a season’s double over the Ospreys last year for the first time since 2003/04
– The Ospreys’ overall record at the Sportsground is won eight and lost five
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