CONNACHT HAVE BEEN bolstered by the returns of key men Mack Hansen, Finlay Bealham, Jarrad Butler, and Cian Prendergast to their starting XV for tomorrow’s URC clash with the Stormers in Stellenbosch [KO 1.3pm, RTÉ].
Bundee Aki has been included on the Connacht bench and is set to make his first appearance of the season along with Hansen, Bealham, and Prendergast, all of whom were on Ireland’s tour of New Zealand during the summer.
Connacht boss Andy Friend has made six changes after last weekend’s disappointing defeat away to Ulster, with Butler returning to captain the side after missing out through injury in Belfast.
Bealham makes up an all-new front row along with Denis Buckley and Dylan Tierney-Martin, while there’s a new lock pairing of Niall Murray and Josh Murphy, who has shifted up from the back row. Prendergast and Butler come into the back row alongside Paul Boyle.
Conor Fitzgerald continues at out-half in the absence of the injured skipper Jack Carty, but there’s a change at scrum-half as Caolin Blade starts in place of Kieran Marmion.
Byron Ralston moves from the wing into midfield alongside Tom Daly, while Ireland international Hansen comes into the back three along with fullback Oran McNulty as John Porch starts on the right wing.
Meanwhile, 19-year-old centre Suleiman Hartzenberg and experienced fullback Clayton Blommetjies will make their debuts in the Stormers’ starting XV. 20-year-old out-half Sacha Mngomezulu is set for his second URC appearance off the bench.
This will be the first URC outing of the campaign for John Dobson’s side, who claimed the title at the first time of asking last season.
Connacht:
- 15. Oran McNulty
- 14. John Porch
- 13. Byron Ralston
- 12. Tom Farrell
- 11. Mack Hansen
- 10. Conor Fitzgerald
- 9. Caolin Blade
- 1. Denis Buckley
- 2. Dylan Tierney-Martin
- 3. Finlay Bealham
- 4. Josh Murphy
- 5. Niall Murray
- 6. Cian Prendergast
- 7. Jarrad Butler
- 8. Paul Boyle
Replacements:
- 16. Dave Heffernan
- 17. Peter Dooley
- 18. Jack Aungier
- 19. Oisín Dowling
- 20. Shamus Hurley-Langton
- 21. Kieran Marmion
- 22. Bundee Aki
- 23. David Hawkshaw
Stormers:
- 15. Clayton Blommetjies
- 14. Angelo Davids
- 13. Suleiman Hartzenberg
- 12. Dan du Plessis
- 11. Seabelo Senatla
- 10. Manie Libbok
- 9. Paul de Wet
- 1. Ali Vermaak
- 2. Andre-Hugo Venter
- 3. Brok Harris
- 4. Ernst van Rhyn (captain)
- 5. Marvin Orie
- 6. Junior Pokomela
- 7. Hacjivah Dayimani
- 8. Evan Roos
Replacements:
- 16. Chad Solomon
- 17. Kwenzo Blose
- 18. Neethling Fouche
- 19. Adré Smith
- 20. Marcel Theunissen
- 21. Willie Engelbrecht
- 22. Godlen Masimla
- 23 Sacha Mngomezulu
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi [FIR].
