Connacht Scrum Half Caolin Blade is set to captain
Connacht as they travel to Kingspan Stadium to take on Ulster in the Pro14 on
Friday (Kick off 7:35pm).
Blade has been a central figure for Connacht of late
having taken part in all of the province’s 12 games of the current campaign.
The 25 year old Monivea man will continue his half back partnership with Conor
Fitzgerald for the trip to Belfast.
Elsewhere in the back line, Peter Robb has returned
from injury to partner Tom Daly in midfield while Tiernan O’Halloran starts at
full back in a back three that includes John Porch and Matt Healy on the wings.
Up front, Paddy McAllister is another to return from
injury in time for the interpro clash. The loosehead prop joins a front row
with hooker Dave Heffernan and Finlay Bealham at tighthead.
With Quinn Roux picking up a hand injury against
Munster that will likely keep him out of action until the end of January, Andy
Friend has been forced to make a change to his second row. Ultan Dillane will
line up with Joe Maksymiw who came off the bench last weekend with 20 year old
Roscommon man Niall Murray named among the replacements.
In the back row, Robin Copeland comes into the
starting team at number 8. He will be flanked by Eoin McKeon and Paul Boyle at
blindside and openside respectively.
Commenting ahead of the game, Connacht Head Coach
Andy Friend said: “We have had a short turnaround from the Munster game, and
with Christmas in the middle of that, there isn’t a huge volume of training the
squad can get through. We are boosted by the return of Paddy McAllister, Matt
Healy and Peter Robb, and those fresh legs are important as we head into the
tenth weekend in a row of Pro14 and Champions Cup action”.
“Ulster have a fantastic record at home and are unbeaten
in Kingspan since we defeated them some 14 months ago. So, we’re looking
forward to another competitive interpro game in front of a passionate home
crowd.”
Connacht Matchday Squad V Ulster (Fri 27 Dec,
7:35pm)
(15-9): Tiernan O’Halloran, John Porch, Tom Daly,
Peter Robb, Matt Healy, Conor Fitzgerald, Caolin Blade (Capt) (1-8): Paddy
McAllister, Dave Heffernan, Finlay Bealham, Ultan Dillane, Joe Maksymiw, Eoin
McKeon, Paul Boyle, Robin Copeland.
Replacements: Shane Delahunt, Denis Buckley, Dominic
Robertson McCoy, Niall Murray, Eoghan Masterson, Stephen Kerins, Kyle Godwin,
Stephen Fitzgerald.
