The GUINNESS PRO12’s ‘Big Weekend’ starts with a bang in Galway tonight as current pacesetters Ulster travel to play defending champions Connacht.
GUINNESS PRO12: Friday, October 7
CONNACHT (9th) v ULSTER (1st), the Sportsground, 7.35pm (live TG4/BBC 2 Northern Ireland)
Team News: Connacht head coach Pat Lam has had to make six changes to the team that secured a bonus point victory over Edinburgh a week ago.
Cian Kelleher, one of last week’s try scorers, will start on the left wing in place of the injured Matt Healy. Peter Robb and Kieran Marmion failed late fitness tests prior to the Captain’s Run on Thursday having picked up knocks in the last round.
At inside centre, Craig Ronaldson will now make his first appearance of the season following his return from long-term injury and Caolin Blade starts at scrum half.
Up front, hooker Dave Heffernan has been handed his first start of the season in the absence of the injured Tom McCartney. With Denis Buckley ruled out, returning Ireland international Finlay Bealham comes in at loosehead while Conor Carey remains at tighthead after his impressive debut performance against Edinburgh.
Galway man Andrew Browne returns from injury to make his maiden appearance of the campaign, partnering Ultan Dillane in the second row. Quinn Roux is unavailable having picked up a knock while training with Ireland earlier in the week.
Changes to the replacements bench see Shane Delahunt in line to make his seasonal debut, while uncapped Academy scrum half Stephen Kerins and recently-arrived utility back Stacey Ili have been named in their first matchday squads.
The 20-year-old Kerins, who hails from Sligo, has been training with the senior squad since pre-season having impressed with the Ireland Under-20s during June’s World Rugby U-20 Championship in Manchester.
Meanwhile, Tommy Bowe will make his first start in six months as Ulster travel to Galway to take on Connacht in round 6 of the GUINNESS PRO12.
Bowe played the final 20 minutes of last Saturday’s 9-7 victory over the Ospreys at Kingspan Stadium, and director of rugby Les Kiss has rewarded him with a place on the right wing this week.
Charles Piutau and Franco van der Merwe are ruled out following injuries picked up against the Ospreys so both will sit out this week along with Ruan Pienaar, who is rested as Kiss continues to manage his playing resources during an intense October schedule that will see Ulster play back-to-back Champions Cup fixtures.
Bowe will be joined in the back-three by Craig Gilroy and Jared Payne, who will captain the side from full-back. Darren Cave retains his place in midfield where he is joined by Louis Ludik, who is enjoying a fantastic run of form so far this season.
Paddy Jackson, who kicked all of Ulster’s points last weekend (including the late penalty to win the game), will once again be joined by Paul Marshall at half-back.
Up front, Callum Black comes into the front row alongside Rory Best and former Connacht prop Rodney Ah You. Robbie Diack and Peter Browne will start together in the second row, while Clive Ross comes in at openside flanker to link up with Iain Henderson and Roger Wilson in the back row.
Rob Herring, Andrew Warwick, Ross Kane, Kieran Treadwell and Sean Reidy will provide the replacement forward cover, while Dave Shanahan, Brett Herron and Robert Lyttle are the back-line options on the bench.
CONNACHT: Tiernan O’Halloran; Niyi Adeolokun, Bundee Aki, Craig Ronaldson, Cian Kelleher; Jack Carty, Caolin Blade; Finlay Bealham, Dave Heffernan, Conor Carey, Ultan Dillane, Andrew Browne, Eoin McKeon, Jake Heenan, John Muldoon (capt).
Replacements: Shane Delahunt, Ronan Loughney, JP Cooney, Lewis Stevenson, James Connolly, Stephen Kerins, Shane O’Leary, Stacey Ili.
ULSTER: Jared Payne (capt); Tommy Bowe, Louis Ludik, Darren Cave, Craig Gilroy; Paddy Jackson, Paul Marshall; Callum Black, Rory Best, Rodney Ah You, Robbie Diack, Peter Browne, Iain Henderson, Clive Ross, Roger Wilson.
Replacements: Rob Herring, Andrew Warwick, Ross Kane, Kieran Treadwell, Sean Reidy, Dave Shanahan, Brett Herron, Robert Lyttle.
Referee: Gary Conway (Ireland)
Assistant Referees: Dudley Phillips, Leo Colgan (both Ireland)
Television Match Official: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Connacht to win: 13/8; Draw: 16/1; Ulster to win: 8/15
Pre-Match Quotes: Pat Lam (Connacht) – “We’ve been hit with a good few injuries to our senior squad this week, and have had to make changes to the side as late as this morning (Thursday). Despite all the different disruptions, we are all really excited by the challenge we face at home against Ulster.
“Ulster are a well-coached side with quality players across the park. We know they will come here full of confidence after the start that they’ve had and will be targeting this game to continue their impressive run.
“As long as we continue our day-to-day improvement in team performance, we will give ourselves a chance to get the points on offer.”
Rodney Ah You (Ulster) – “It will be good to be back at the Sportsground. All be it in a different jersey. Connacht will be really up for this game, so I’m excited to play them.
“To be honest, I haven’t kept in touch with any of the guys, moving up here was like a fresh start for me and I have moved on so it’s just another day at the office.
“I feel like I am going well at the minute, I am in a good place and I am ready to put in a massive effort in Galway. I am enjoying working with Les, I feel like he is getting the best out of me and I am trying to give him as much as I can. The players here have been great and have really welcomed me into the side, I am really enjoying playing alongside them.
“Les is well clued in to what Connacht are doing already but I have been offering some advice on what I did there over the past few seasons and helping where I can. At the end of the day it’s not so much about what they do, but what we do on the field that really matters.
“They didn’t get off to the best start but will be puffing their chests up after a win last weekend against Edinburgh. We will go down there and fight as hard as we can to continue this winning streak.”
Top Scorers – 2016/17 GUINNESS PRO12: Connacht – Points: Jack Carty 17; Tries: Niyi Adeolokun 3; Ulster – Points: Paddy Jackson 30; Tries: Rob Herring, Robert Lyttle, Ruan Pienaar 2 each
2016/17 TEAM FORM: Connacht – Played 4, Won 1, Lost 3, 5 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); Ulster – Played 5, Won 5, 21 Points; W 29-8 v Newport Gwent Dragons (home), W 22-11 v Benetton Treviso (away), W 19-8 v Scarlets (home), W 22-17 v Glasgow Warriors (away), W 9-7 v Ospreys (home)
RECENT LEAGUE MEETINGS:
Saturday, September 21, 2013 – Connacht 7 Ulster 18, the Sportsground
Friday, April 11, 2014 – Ulster 58 Connacht 12, Ravenhill
Friday, December 26, 2014 – Ulster 13 Connacht 10, Kingspan Stadium
Saturday, April 11, 2015 – Connacht 20 Ulster 27, the Sportsground
Saturday, December 26, 2015 – Connacht 3 Ulster 10, the Sportsground
Friday, April 1, 2016 – Ulster 18 Connacht 10, Kingspan Stadium
MATCH FACTS:
– Connacht earned the first league point of their 2016/17 GUINNESS PRO12 campaign courtesy of a bonus point victory over Edinburgh in Galway last Friday
– The reigning champions finished last season with a won four, lost three record against fellow Irish provinces in the PRO12
– Ulster maintained their perfect start to the new PRO12 season with a fifth successive victory, albeit a narrow one, over the Ospreys in Belfast last Saturday
– Ulster’s only defeat in their last five away games came in last season’s semi-final against Leinster at the RDS
– Connacht have beaten Ulster just once in their last twenty encounters: 26-21 at the Sportsground in April 2012
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