Connacht have built up plenty of early season momentum with three wins in four games. Defeating the Ospreys on Welsh soil for the first time since November 2004 would be a serious statement of intent.
GUINNESS PRO12: Saturday, October 24
OSPREYS (10th) v CONNACHT (4th), Liberty Stadium, 1.30pm (live S4C)
Team News: Head coach Pat Lam has named his Connacht team for the GUINNESS PRO12 round 5 fixture away to the Ospreys.
Galway-born full-back Tiernan O’Halloran will captain the side for the first time in his Connacht career. The 24-year-old from Clifden is awarded the honour as John Muldoon, having played 80 minutes in all four games so far this season, is named among the replacements.
There are five personnel changes to the starting line-up from last weekend’s bonus point win over Zebre last week.
Jack Carty has recovered from the injury that kept him out last time to take his place at out-half. There is a shift in the back-line as Craig Ronaldson moves out to inside centre and Bundee Aki wears the number 13 shirt, having played there in his Connacht debut in the same fixture last year.
Galway man Darragh Leader comes in for his first start of the season on the right wing, replacing Danie Poolman who pulled up with a minor hamstring injury during the week.
Up front, 21-year-old Academy hooker Shane Delahunt will make just his second senior start and packs down in a front row with the experienced Denis Buckley and Rodney Ah You. Aly Muldowney is also named for his first start of the season, joining Quinn Roux in the second row.
The selected back row sees Eoin McKeon shift to blindside flanker, making way for Eoghan Masterson at number 8. Top try scorer Nepia-Fox Matamua completes the youthful trio. From the bench, backs Ian Porter and Niyi Adeolokun are in line to make their first appearances this season.
Meanwhile, the Ospreys management have been able to include four of Wales’ Rugby World Cup players – Paul James, Justin Tipuric, Aaron Jarvis and James King – for the visit of Connacht.
Prop James, who is on the bench along with Tipuric and Jarvis, is set for his first Ospreys appearance since returning from a three-year stint with Bath, while flanker King joins Sam Underhill and Dan Baker in the back row.
World Cup call-up Eli Walker, who has recovered from a hamstring injury, starts on the right wing as the only change to the back-line that started last weekend’s 25-22 triumph over Benetton Treviso. The only other switch sees Joe Bearman make way for King.
OSPREYS: Richard Fussell; Tom Grabham, Ben John, Josh Matavesi, Eli Walker; Sam Davies, Brendon Leonard; Ryan Bevington, Sam Parry, Dmitri Arhip, Lloyd Ashley (capt), Rory Thornton, James King, Sam Underhill, Dan Baker.
Replacements: Scott Otten, Paul James, Aaron Jarvis, Rynier Bernardo, Joe Bearman, Justin Tipuric, Tom Habberfield, Dan Evans.
CONNACHT: Tiernan O’Halloran (capt); Darragh Leader, Bundee Aki, Craig Ronaldson, Matt Healy; Jack Carty, Kieran Marmion; Denis Buckley, Shane Delahunt, Rodney Ah You, Quinn Roux, Aly Muldowney, Eoin McKeon, Nepia Fox-Matamua, Eoghan Masterson.
Replacements: Dave Heffernan, Conan O’Donnell, Finlay Bealham, Ultan Dillane, John Muldoon, Ian Porter, Rory Parata, Niyi Adeolokun.
Referee: Andy Brace (Ireland)
Assistant Referees: Sean Brickell, Aled Evans (both Wales)
Television Match Official: Gareth Simmonds (Wales)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Ospreys to win: 3/10; Draw: 18/1; Connacht to win: 13/5
Pre-Match Quotes: Eoin McKeon (Connacht) – “I’ve been over there (Swansea) the last three seasons and we’ve yet to get a win. I played when we beat them at the Sportsground but that was back in February 2013 so yes, a win is well overdue.
“I think in the past few seasons, particularly, we have been unlucky over there. But looking at those games, it was through our own play and the leaking of soft tries that cost us. We’ve definitely come home from there feeling like we’ve underachieved. So I’m hoping this time we can stay within the structure and the game-plan to get the win.
“Every year we’re maturing and gelling that bit more. Even though we’re a young group, it’s pretty much the same core group of players since Pat (Lam) came in. From year one to year two under Pat we’ve made massive strides. And then again from year two to now, we’ve made a good start to the season and everyone feels we’re going in the right direction.
“Every team in the league now is going to be physical, that’s a given. You have to able to match it. But with the Ospreys, what we also find is that they are so sharp and they can pull a try out of anywhere. They have a very high skill level and a lot of sharp backs that can penetrate even the best defence.”
Steve Tandy (Ospreys) – “Last week was a big step up from us in terms of performance and we got the win out in Treviso, but we are under no illusions that we need to be better again this Saturday.
“Connacht have started the season well, are looking dangerous, scoring tries, and are deservedly up in the top four with three wins. In fairness to the IRFU they have a strategic plan in place, have increased their financial support for Connacht considerably and you can see the impact that investment is having on their squad and strength in depth.
“They’ve not had the disruption that other teams have had through the World Cup, have had a head-start, and will be fighting to stay up near the top of the table. For us, it’s about striving to be better, sharper and more clinical at what we do, putting together an all-round performance that can deliver what we need.
“It’s good to see some of the international boys back involved, and in the case of Paul James, back in an Ospreys shirt after three years away. What’s also really pleasing is that we’ve got one or two individuals out there, young men like Rory Thornton and Sam Underhill, who have really grabbed their opportunity over the last few weeks and have kept hold of the shirt on merit. That is exactly what we want and bodes well for the future.”
Top Scorers – 2015/16 GUINNESS PRO12: Ospreys – Points: Sam Davies 48; Tries: Dan Evans, Ben John, Sam Davies 1 each; Connacht – Points: Jack Carty 37; Tries: Nepia Fox-Matamua, Danie Poolman 3 each
RECENT LEAGUE MEETINGS:
Saturday, October 27, 2012 – Ospreys 26 Connacht 9, Liberty Stadium
Friday, February 15, 2013 – Connacht 22 Ospreys 10, the Sportsground
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
MATCH FACTS:
– The Ospreys recorded their opening victory of the 2015/16 GUINNESS PRO12 campaign with their 25-22 win in Treviso last Saturday
– The Welshmen were defeated by Munster last time out at Liberty Stadium, but have not lost back-to-back home games at the venue in the league since September 2012
– Connacht have suffered only one reversal so far this season and that by a solitary point in 65, at Glasgow in round 2
– The westerners have already beaten two Welsh regions this season, accounting for the Newport Gwent Dragons in round 1 and Cardiff Blues in round 3
– Connacht’s only victory in their last 14 encounters with the Ospreys was 22-10 in Galway in February 2013, while the last time the province defeated the Ospreys in Wales was 10-9 at the Gnoll in November 2004
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