Connacht head coach Pete Wilkins has named his side for tomorrow’s BKT United Rugby Championship meeting with the Dragons at Dexcom Stadium (k/o 7.35 pm).
In the pack, three changes from the side started against Leinster last week, with Peter Dooley and Dylan Tierney-Martin coming into the front row for their first starts of the season, while Niall Murray replaces his brother Darragh in the second row. Finlay Bealham, Joe Joyce, and backrowers Sean O’Brien, Paul Boyle and captain Cian Prendergast retain their places.
In the backs, there’s a new half-back pairing of Caolin Blade and Jack Carty, while the final change sees Cathal Forde come in at outside centre alongside Bundee Aki, who reports in France are saying is the leading transfer target for Top 14 giants Toulon. The news was first reported by Rugbyrama.fr, the website of the French rugby periodical Midi Olympique which says Aki could be open to 'new challenges'. The website also claims Toulon have spoken to Aki over video call as part of the recruitment process.
Connacht's back three of Santiago Cordero, Shayne Bolton and Piers O’Conor is retained. Among the replacements are the local duo of hooker Eoin de Buitléar and scrum-half Matthew Devine, who will make their first appearances of the season if called upon.
Head coach Pete Wilkins says: “This is another very important game in the context of our overall season. We were disappointed not to get anything from last week, but this Dragons encounter provides us with an opportunity to bounce back with a determined and high-energy performance. Dragons are a seriously competitive side - abrasive at the contact zone, a well-drilled forward pack, and a very smart kicking game - so it’s up to us to match them physically and then attempt to impose our game on them. If we continue to demonstrate the growth of recent weeks and perform to our potential, we can head into the URC break with a lot of positivity.”
CONNACHT SQUAD V DRAGONS
19:35, Saturday 26th October 2024 @ Dexcom Stadium
Live on Galway Bay FM
15. Piers O’Conor (5)
14. Shayne Bolton (17)
13. Cathal Forde (36)
12. Bundee Aki (141)
11. Santiago Cordero (7)
10. Jack Carty (213)
9. Caolin Blade (197)
1. Peter Dooley (42)
2. Dylan Tierney-Martin (41)
3. Finlay Bealham (208)
4. Joe Joyce (31)
5. Niall Murray (78)
6. Cian Prendergast (73) (C)
7. Sean O’Brien (11)
8. Paul Boyle (97)
16. Eoin de Buitléar (7)
17. Denis Buckley (253)
18. Jack Aungier (69)
19. Darragh Murray (27)
20. Sean Jansen (10)
21. Matthew Devine (5)
22. Josh Ioane (4)
23. Hugh Gavin (1)
For the Dragons, Wales international Aaron Wainwright starts for the first time this season as he looks to prove his fitness ahead of the autumn opener against Fiji next month. The No. 8 starts against Connacht on Saturday night, making his first appearance since limping off injured during his 50th cap for Wales in July. Head coach Dai Flanagan makes eight changes for the trip to Galway, as they look to finish the first block of United Rugby Championship fixtures with a victory. Despite much-improved performances, the Gwent side has still only managed to win one of their five opening games.
In the pack, Matthew Screech starts alongside captain and fellow Wales international Ben Carter while there are first starts of the season for all of the new-look front-row - with hooker Oli Burrows packing down between props Chris Coleman and Ospreys loanee Cameron Jones. In the backs, Wales full-back Cai Evans features for the first time this season, with Angus O'Brien moving to fly-half. He's joined in the half-backs by Dane Blacker. The other change in the backline sees Ewan Rosser brought in on the wing. Prop Aki Seiuli could make his first appearance since re-joining the club on a short-term deal after being named among the replacements.
“I like Connacht, they have a blend of a very good team," said Flanagan. "There are 23 guys who are really fighting for the cause, they are all committed to winning 50/50 battles and collisions. They are well coached and have an identity with their style of play that they don’t go too far away from. There are not too many teams better at playing into the wind than Connacht in Galway. Their style, skill set, and accuracy allows them to keep the ball for long periods. We have a big challenge but it’s one we are looking forward to.”
Dragons RFC: Cai Evans; Rio Dyer, Joe Westwood, Aneurin Owen, Ewan Rosser; Angus O’Brien, Dane Blacker; Cameron Jones, Oli Burrows, Chris Coleman, Ben Carter (c), Matthew Screech, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Harri Keddie, Aaron Wainwright.
Replacements: Brodie Coghlan, Aki Seiuli, Luke Yendle, Steve Cummins, Taine Basham, Rhodri Williams, Lloyd Evans, Harry Wilson.
