Connacht head coach Pete Wilkins has made two changes to his side for Saturday’s (19th October 2024) BKT United Rugby Championship interprovincial with Leinster.
Darragh Murray replaces the suspended Josh Murphy; David Hawkshaw is in for the injured Mack Hansen; and potential debutant Hugh Gavin is among the replacements.
The starting team in full:
Piers O’Connor at full-back;
Shayne Bolton, David Hawkshaw, Bundee Aki and Santiago Cordero are the three-quarters;
Out-half Josh Ioane partners scrum-half Ben Murphy;
Denis Buckley, Dave Heffernan and Finlay Bealham are the front row;
Joe Joyce and Darragh Murray are behind them;
While the back row contains Cian Prendergast, Paul Boyle and Sean O’Brien.
With a full preview and a chat with Connacht head coach Pete Wilkins, here's Galway Bay FM's William Davies.
The game is sold out in Dexcom Stadium. Kick-off is 7.35pm on Saturday and we’ll have LIVE coverage here on Galway Bay FM.
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Cracking the miserly Jacques Nienaber defence will be the big challenge for Connacht as they welcome the league leaders to Galway.
Under the expert tutelage of the man who guided South Africa to World Cup glory last year, Leinster have conceded just three tries in their last three matches.
So Connacht coach Pete Wilkins is well aware of the task facing his troops as they take on the table toppers, who have racked up maximum points so far this season.
Outlining Nienaber’s impact, Leinster captain Caelan Doris said: “Our defence has been a good area of growth.
“There’s a clarity and understanding with Jacques’s plan, so that’s been good. He’s brought an extra level of aggression and the mindset of wanting to suffocate teams and using our defence as a weapon to get the ball back.
“He’s a great fella to have around. He’s very energetic, enthusiastic, he enjoys a pint and he’s just good for the environment in general.”
Reflecting on Leinster’s start to the season, No 8 Doris said: “We are 20 from 20, which is ideal. Performance-wise, it hasn't been perfect, but it’s been pretty good at times.”
On the meeting with Connacht, he added: “It will be a hostile atmosphere down there.
“They are loud, pretty boisterous, the Galway people. It will be good. It’s always a tough challenge there.”
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The Disciplinary process related to Josh Murphy's Red Card in the BKT United Rugby Championship Round 4 game against Ulster on Saturday, October 12 has resulted in a four game suspension.
After an act of foul play by Connacht player No 5 (Josh Murphy), referee Andrew Brace showed the Player a Red Card in the 71st minute of the game under Law 9.13 – A player must not tackle an opponent early, late or dangerously. Dangerous tackling includes, but is not limited to, tackling or attempting to tackle an opponent above the line of the shoulders even if the tackle starts below the line of the shoulders.
In the Player’s responses to the Judicial Officer overseeing the disciplinary process (Mr. Simon Thomas, Wales), he had accepted that he had committed an act of foul play which warranted a Red Card. Mr. Thomas found that the incident met the Red Card threshold, with entry of mid-range warranting six weeks. The Player received two weeks mitigation due to his apology to Ulster No 16 and the referee, his full engaged participation in the disciplinary process and good record which results in a four game suspension.
Should the Player complete the World Rugby Coaching Intervention Programme then the sanction will be reduced by one week.
Fixtures Josh Murphy is unavailable for:
Connacht v Leinster, 19 October 2024, BKT URC
Connacht v Dragons RFC, 26 October 2024, BKT URC
Connacht A v Leinster A, 16 November 2024
Connacht A v Ulster A, 22 November 2024
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