JJ HANRAHAN MAKES his first start in eight months as Connacht face Glasgow Warriors in the URC at Scotstown Stadium on Sunday (KO: 3.30pm).
There are seven changes from the Connacht side that beat Cardiff last week in the Challenge Cup.
๐ข ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฆ
โ Connacht Rugby (@connachtrugby) January 24, 2025
All set for Sunday in Glasgow! ๐๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ
๐ https://t.co/7rvNXIjdOB#OneConnacht | @Genesys pic.twitter.com/7w3xgsU4Zg
David Hawkshaw starts at inside centre, Hanrahan starts alongside Caolin Blade at scrum half.
In the forwards, Jack Aungier, David OโConnor, Shamus Hurley-Langton and Sean Jansen all come in.
Peter Dooley and Dave Heffernan make up the front row with Aungier , while Joe Joyce who captains the team, partners David OโConnor. Josh Murphy moves from second row to blindside flanker with Hurley-Langton on the opposite side and Jansen at No 8.
๐ Back home once more
โ Glasgow Warriors (@GlasgowWarriors) January 24, 2025
Here is your Glasgow Warriors team to take on @connachtrugby at Scotstoun this Sunday! ๐
๐๏ธ https://t.co/Z4AkHkXmfb
๐ฐ https://t.co/UdrsDkCzYn
Let's hear you, Warrior Nation! ๐#WhateverItTakes | @MackenzieConstr pic.twitter.com/AWqfhgnM0q
Piers OโConor will be alongside Hawkshaw in the centre. The back three remains unchanged with Ralston named on the left wing, Chay Mullins on the opposite side and Santiago Cordero again at full-back.
Connacht:
15. Santiago Cordero
14. Chay Mullins
13. Piers OโConor
12. David Hakwshaw
11. Byron Ralston
10. JJ Hanrahan
9. Caolin Blade
1. Peter Dooley
2. Dave Heffernan
3. Jack Aungier
4. David OโConnor
5. Joe Joyce
6. Josh Murphy
7. Shamus Hurley-Langton
8. Sean Jansen
Replacements:
16. Dylan Tierney-Martin
17. Jordan Duggan
18. Sam Illo
19. Oisin Dowling
20. Paul Boyle
21. Matthew Devine
22. Jack Carty
23. Finn Treacy
Ref: Adam Jones (WRU)
Plenty of โgo forwardโ power in that back row, letโs see if we can be consistent and get two successive good performances
Thatโs a good side for Connacht. Nice centre pairing there too with Hawkshaw and OโConor. Good to see JJ back!
Thatโs a fairly callow Warriors team and Connacht are strong enough to get the points
@Des Lamont: Always likely to be with so many frontline players with Scotland. Best possible time to visit them.
Aaking as a non connacht fan, howโs chay mullins going. Iv not seen him since the Olympics. Always interested to see how young wingers with a bit of pace are doing as aside from loosehead we seem to struggle to produce wingers as a nation
@scott casey: scored a hatrick on his debut in challenge cup followed that up with a try and 2 assists in his next game. Played well last week against Cardiff but probably sticks out wide more while connacht like their wings to come in and get involved like hansen.
@Thomas Bohan: I always thought that having one play-making wing and one speedster on the other wing for strike moves is the best combination. Also wingers can be taught to get more involved. Perfect example is Calvin Nash. I know he isnโt a play maker like hansen, but he has developed a great knack of coming in field looking for a short shoulder to exploit.
Has to be a win for Connacht, should be 5 points too, its not even a second Glasgow team, as they have 24 players unavailable , best possible time to play them.
Unavailable for selection: Scott Cummings (arm), Adam Hastings (face), Gregor Hiddleston (ankle) Jare Oguntibeju (knee), JP du Preez (knee), Kyle Steyn (knee), Sione Tuipulotu (pectoral), Sione Vailanu (knee), Murphy Walker (neck), Max Williamson (hand).
International duty: Gregor Brown, Rory Darge, Jack Dempsey, Jamie Dobie, Matt Fagerson, Zander Fagerson, George Horne, Huw Jones, Tom Jordan, Stafford McDowall, Kyle Rowe, Rory Sutherland.
Super Team sheet. Bet of Luck
this on TV?