DESPITE A LENGTHY list of injury absentees, as well as having three players on international duty, Connacht head coach Kieran Keane has selected a strong starting XV for tomorrow night’s Guinness Pro14 clash with Cardiff Blues [KO 7.35pm].
Having been victorious in their last four outings in all competitions, Keane’s side will be eager to maintain their winning run at the Cardiff Arms Park against a side they lead by one point in the table. Connacht are in fourth place in Conference A, with the Blues in fifth.
Ultan Dillane, Bundee Aki and Kieran Marmion have remained in the Ireland camp ahead of this weekend’s clash with Argentina, but the western province have been able to include new signing Pita Ahki among the replacements.
Connacht:
15. Tiernan O’Halloran
14. Niyi Adeolokun
13. Eoin Griffin
12. Tom Farrell
11. Matt Healy
10. Jack Carty
9. Caolin Blade
1. Denis Buckley
2. Dave Heffernan
3. Finlay Bealham
4. Quinn Roux
5. James Cannon
6. Eoin McKeon
7. Jake Heenan
8. John Muldoon (captain)
Replacements:
16. Shane Delahunt
17. Peter McCabe
18. Conor Carey
19. Gavin Thornbury
20. Eoghan Masterson
21. James Mitchell
22. Steve Crosbie
23. Pita Ahki
Cardiff Blues:
15. Matthew Morgan
14. Owen Lane
13. Garyn Smith
12. Willis Halaholo
11. Tom James
10. Jarrod Evans
9. Tomos Williams
1. Corey Domachowski
2. Matthew Rees (captain)
3. Taufa’ao Filise
4. George Earle
5. Damian Welch
6. Macauley Cook
7. Olly Robinson
8. Nick Williams
Replacements:
16. Kirby Myhill
17. Brad Thyer
18. Anton Peikrishvili
19. James Down
20. Josh Turnbull
21. Lewis Jones
22. Gareth Anscombe
23. Harri Millard
