Connacht will be looking to right the wrongs of their surprise defeat away to Zebre last weekend when they open round 19 of the GUINNESS PRO12 with their first ever visit to Myreside to face Edinburgh.
GUINNESS PRO12: Friday, April 7
EDINBURGH (9th) v CONNACHT (7th), Myreside, 7.35pm (live TG4/BBC ALBA)
Team News: Connacht head coach Pat Lam has made seven changes to the team beaten in Zebre last weekend, with Ireland internationals Tiernan O’Halloran and Kieran Marmion among the players drafted back into the province’s starting XV.
Set to make his 100th PRO12 appearance, O’Halloran has been among the top full-backs in the competition again this season with the most metres gained and more carries than any other player.
With five personnel changes in the back-line, Marmion starts at scrum half and Niyi Adeolokun, having shaken off a niggle, also returns on the right wing. Danie Poolman switches to the left flank, while Steve Crosbie makes his second start for the westerners at out-half.
After making his return from injury off the bench in Parma last week, Eoin Griffin is handed a starting place and will partner Bundee Aki in the centre.
There is one change in the front row as Dominic Robertson-McCoy (pictured below) replaces Finlay Bealham with Denis Buckley and Tom McCartney retaining their places. Quinn Roux and Andrew Browne continue in the second row with Eoin McKeon moving to blindside flanker as Jake Heenan has recovered from a minor shin injury to start on the openside. Captain John Muldoon continues at number 8.
Shane Delahunt, JP Cooney and Bealham provide the front row cover with James Cannon, Sean O’Brien, Caolin Blade, Jack Carty and Josh Rowland completing the replacements.
Ahead of Connacht’s trip to Scotland, Lam said: “This is our third away game in a row and after last week’s game in Italy, we have an opportunity to produce a performance we can be proud of.
“Although we have been creating numerous opportunities to score, it is all about making sure we take those chances tomorrow night. Edinburgh are always tough, physical opposition and we are looking forward to a big challenge on our first visit to Myreside.”
Meanwhile, acting head coach Duncan Hodge has made six changes to the Edinburgh team for the visit of last year’s PRO12 champions. Four of the alterations are in the backs, with two changes in the starting pack.
Glenn Bryce starts at full-back in place of Blair Kinghorn, who is currently on duty with the Scotland Sevens squad. Another personnel change in the back-three sees former Ireland Under-20 international Rory Scholes taking up a spot on the left wing.
It is all change at half-back with Nathan Fowles and Duncan Weir replacing Sam Hidalgo-Clyne and Jason Tovey respectively.
Ben Toolis has recovered from a back injury and is selected in the second row where he will be joined by Fraser McKenzie. Stuart McInally will make his 100th appearance for the club if he is introduced off the bench.
Damien Hoyland retains his spot on the right wing to join Bryce and Scholes in the back-three, while Phil Burleigh and Chris Dean continue as the Scots’ centre pairing.
Ross Ford will again captain the side from hooker, and is joined in the front row by Murray McCallum and Simon Berghan. Viliame Mata, Hamish Watson and Cornell du Preez form the back row trio.
EDINBURGH: Glenn Bryce; Damien Hoyland, Chris Dean, Phil Burleigh, Rory Scholes; Duncan Weir, Nathan Fowles; Murray McCallum, Ross Ford (capt), Simon Berghan, Fraser McKenzie, Ben Toolis, Viliame Mata, Hamish Watson, Cornell du Preez.
Replacements: Stuart McInally, Derrick Appiah, Kevin Bryce, Grant Gilchrist, Jamie Ritchie, Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, Tom Brown, Junior Rasolea.
CONNACHT: Tiernan O’Halloran; Niyi Adeolokun, Eoin Griffin, Bundee Aki, Danie Poolman; Steve Crosbie, Kieran Marmion; Denis Buckley, Tom McCartney, Dominic Robertson-McCoy, Quinn Roux, Andrew Browne, Eoin McKeon, Jake Heenan, John Muldoon (capt).
Replacements: Shane Delahunt, JP Cooney, Finlay Bealham, James Cannon, Sean O’Brien, Caolin Blade, Jack Carty, Josh Rowland.
Referee: Dan Jones (Wales)
Assistant Referees: Sean Brickell (Wales), Lloyd Linton (Scotland)
Television Match Official: Alan Falzone (Italy)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Edinburgh to win: 4/7; Draw: 16/1; Connacht to win: 6/4
Pre-Match Quotes: Conor McPhillips (Connacht) – “While it was obviously not the result we were looking for in Italy last weekend, we are straight back into action tonight against Edinburgh in Myreside after a quick turnaround.
“We dominated possession and territory in Parma and must have had nearly 15 opportunities to score but only took three. Zebre, on the other hand, had four opportunities and scored three tries – largely due to our mistakes, but we give full credit to them.
“Edinburgh will obviously be disappointed with their defeat to La Rochelle (in the Challenge Cup) in Murrayfield so they will be looking for a backlash. They are sprinkled with Scottish internationals who had a fairly successful Six Nations and they are always a tough proposition, especially up front.
“They have a strong set piece and play a physical, attritional game so we are in no doubt that we’re in for a tough battle and we will have to be prepared for that. We would like to be playing them at Murrayfield as it has been a happy hunting ground for us having beaten Leinster there in last year’s PRO12 final and also winning against Edinburgh there last season.
“We really want to turn our away form around and we are searching for that win, hopefully we will be able to get it in Myreside. Kieran and Tiernan are two of our key performers – they are both Ireland internationals and are fresh back from a break so that’s exciting for us.”
Duncan Hodge (Edinburgh) – “We played a lot of good rugby last week, but once again a lack of consistency and high error count marred our ability to dominate the game for long periods. We’re continuing to work hard on cutting out such costly mistakes as we search for a full 80-minute showing.
“We want to provide a good performance for our home support, and need the basics of our game to be in order with an attitude and intensity to match. That will give us the platform we need, and help us control the game.
“Connacht will be hungry to bounce back from their defeat to Zebre, but we hold home advantage and want to make that count. Finally, congratulations to Stuart on reaching the caps milestone. He’s a great player, a real club man and a brilliant guy to have around the squad.”
Top Scorers – 2016/17 GUINNESS PRO12: Edinburgh – Points: Duncan Weir 93; Tries: Magnus Bradbury 5; Connacht – Points: Jack Carty 70; Tries: Niyi Adeolokun 6
2016/17 TEAM FORM: Edinburgh – Played 18, Won 4, Lost 14, 22 Points; L 34-16 v Cardiff Blues (away), W 20-9 v Scarlets (home), L 33-20 v Leinster (home), L 28-14 v Munster (away), L 28-15 v Connacht (away), W 45-10 v Benetton Treviso (home), L 19-14 v Zebre (home), W 28-17 v Ulster (home), L 27-19 v Newport Gwent Dragons (away), L 31-22 v Ospreys (away), L 25-12 v Glasgow Warriors (home), W 24-19 v Zebre (away), L 10-9 v Munster (home), L 24-18 v Ulster (away), L 39-10 v Leinster (away), L 18-17 v Cardiff Blues (home), L 13-9 v Ospreys (home), L 26-10 v Scarlets (away); Connacht – Played 18, Won 8, Lost 10, 40 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), W 18-7 v Cardiff Blues (home), W 47-8 v Benetton Treviso (home), L 23-7 v Ulster (away), L 16-9 v Munster (home), L 29-7 v Ospreys (away), W 19-13 v Cardiff Blues (away), W 14-9 v Newport Gwent Dragons (home), W 34-19 v Benetton Treviso (away), W 33-3 v Zebre (home), L 35-24 v Glasgow Warriors (away), L 25-22 v Zebre (away)
RECENT LEAGUE MEETINGS:
Saturday, February 15, 2014 – Connacht 11 Edinburgh 7, the Sportsground
Friday, September 12, 2014 – Edinburgh 13 Connacht 14, BT Murrayfield
Friday, January 9, 2015 – Connacht 13 Edinburgh 16, the Sportsground
Saturday, October 31, 2015 – Connacht 14 Edinburgh 9, the Sportsground
Friday, March 4, 2016 – Edinburgh 23 Connacht 28, BT Murrayfield
Friday, September 30, 2016 – Connacht 28 Edinburgh 15, the Sportsground
MATCH FACTS:
– Edinburgh have lost their last six GUINNESS PRO12 matches since losing to Zebre in Parma on December 31
– Edinburgh’s only victory since their return to Myreside was 49-3 over Timisoara in the European Challenge Cup on January 20
– Connacht have slipped to back-to-back away defeats in the PRO12 at Glasgow and at Zebre, but did win twice in Scotland last season, over Edinburgh at BT Murrayfield and against Leinster in the PRO12 final at the same venue
– Connacht have won their last three matches against Edinburgh since the Scottish club were victorious in Galway in January 2015
– Connacht have never visited Myreside before
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