PIERS O’CONOR WILL make his first appearance in a Connacht jersey this weekend after being named to start at fullback in the province’s pre-season friendly meeting with Sale Sharks in Galway tomorrow [KO 1.30pm].
The Irish-qualified 28-year old joined the province earlier this summer after a six-year spell with Bristol Bears.
The versatile back is Irish-qualified through his grandfather, with roots in Roscommon as well as Dublin.
Joe Joyce captains Connacht from the second row, while the returning Josh Murphy starts in the back row.
There’s also starts for Matthew Devine and Hugh Gavin on the scrum-half and wing respectively, after both players stepped up to professional contracts this summer.
New signings Temi Lasisi, Adam McBurney, David O’Connor and Ben Murphy are all included on a 15-strong Connacht bench, alongside Academy players Fiachna Barrett, John Devine and Daniel Hawkshaw.
There is no place for Mack Hansen, who has completed a full pre-season after his long-term shoulder injury and is hopeful of being involved in the province’s URC opener against Munster on 21 September.
Tomorrow’s game at the Dexcom Stadium will be streamed live on connachtrugby.ie.
Connacht:
- 15. Piers O’Conor
- 14. Shayne Bolton
- 13. Byron Ralston
- 12. Cathal Forde
- 11. Hugh Gavin
- 10. Jack Carty
- 9. Matthew Devine
- 1. Peter Dooley
- 2. Dyan Tierney-Martin
- 3. Sam Illo
- 4. Joe Joyce (capt)
- 5. Darragh Murray
- 6. Josh Murphy
- 7. Conor Oliver
- 8. Sean Jansen
Replacements from:
- Denis Buckley
- Temi Lasisi
- Adam McBurney
- Jack Aungier
- Fiachna Barrett
- Niall Murray
- Oisin Dowling
- David O’Connor
- Oisin McCormack
- Paul Boyle
- Ben Murphy
- Colm Reilly
- John Devine
- David Hawkshaw
- Daniel Hawkshaw
Excited to see will Fiachna Barrett get many runs out this season. A completely different size prop than Ireland have produced at around 6ft 4
@Shane: Wow, I mean wow. That’s some size for a prop. I can’t find any information online as to whether he is a loosehead or tighthead prop, either way he’s a big fella!
@Con Cussed: When he started for Ireland U20 it was at TH
https://www.connachtrugby.ie/news/barrett-and-west-get-first-starts/bp2616/
@Con Cussed: You won’t find any looseheads that size. They always tend to be shorter/smaller that side of the scrum. Tightheads are bigger because, as the name suggests, they are taking weight of oppo Hooker and Loosehead from each side…
Would they not play Bolton on the left (where he played most his games last season), Ralston on the right (where he also played the majority of his rugby), and Gavin on the centre?
I am sure there is perhaps method in it, but some of Wilkins positional selections I find a bit all over the shop. It seems nearly every Connacht back plays 3 positions switched frequently.
Once last season Hawkshaw played 13, Ralston 14, the next week Ralston 13, Hawkshaw 14. (Bulls, Leinster). Again, there might be a rationale, but on the base level it just seems daft.
@David Hickey: Agree, infact I wouldn’t have Ralston anywhere near the team sheet if it was me.
Excited for the season ahead for Connacht – hopefully they’ll turn up