Connacht face a strong Llanelli side this Saturday as they seek to climb from the bottom rung of the Pro12 ladder.
CONNACHT
Starting XV: 15 Gavin Duffy, 14 Darragh Leader, 13 Eoin Griffin, 12 Dave McSharry, 11 Matt Healy, 10 Craig Ronaldson, 9 Kieran Marmion
1 Brett Wilkinson, 2 Sean Henry, 3 Nathan White, 4 Michael Swift, 5 Craig Clarke (c), 6 Aly Muldowney, 7 Jake Heenan, 8 Eoghan Masterson
Replacements: 16 Jason Harris-Wright, 17 Ronan Loughney, 18 Rodney Ah You, 19 Mick Kearney 20 George Naoupu, 21 Frank Murphy, 22 Dan Parks, 23 Fionn Carr
Unavailable/Injured: John Muldoon, Andrew Browne, Mata Fifita, Willie Faloon, Robbie Henshaw, Miah Nikora, Danie Poolman, and Kyle Tonetti
Starting XV: 15 Gavin Duffy, 14 Darragh Leader, 13 Eoin Griffin, 12 Dave McSharry, 11 Matt Healy, 10 Craig Ronaldson, 9 Kieran Marmion
1 Brett Wilkinson, 2 Sean Henry, 3 Nathan White, 4 Michael Swift, 5 Craig Clarke (c), 6 Aly Muldowney, 7 Jake Heenan, 8 Eoghan Masterson
Replacements: 16 Jason Harris-Wright, 17 Ronan Loughney, 18 Rodney Ah You, 19 Mick Kearney 20 George Naoupu, 21 Frank Murphy, 22 Dan Parks, 23 Fionn Carr
Unavailable/Injured: John Muldoon, Andrew Browne, Mata Fifita, Willie Faloon, Robbie Henshaw, Miah Nikora, Danie Poolman, and Kyle Tonetti
Llanelli Scarlets
Starting XV: 15 Gareth Owen, 14 Frazier Climo, 13 Gareth Maule, 12 Adam Warren, 11 Nic Reynolds, 10 Aled Thomas, 9 Gareth Davies
1 Phil John (c), 2 Kirby Myhill, 3 Jacobie Adriaanse, 4 Jake Ball, 5 George Earle, 6 Aaron Shingler, 7 Josh Turnbull, 8 Sione Timani
Replacements: 16 Darran Harris, 17 Shaun Hopkins, 18 Ian Jones, 19 Jo Synman, 20 Dan Thomas, 21 Aled Davies, 22 Josh Lewis, 23 Kristian Phillips
Starting XV: 15 Gareth Owen, 14 Frazier Climo, 13 Gareth Maule, 12 Adam Warren, 11 Nic Reynolds, 10 Aled Thomas, 9 Gareth Davies
1 Phil John (c), 2 Kirby Myhill, 3 Jacobie Adriaanse, 4 Jake Ball, 5 George Earle, 6 Aaron Shingler, 7 Josh Turnbull, 8 Sione Timani
Replacements: 16 Darran Harris, 17 Shaun Hopkins, 18 Ian Jones, 19 Jo Synman, 20 Dan Thomas, 21 Aled Davies, 22 Josh Lewis, 23 Kristian Phillips
Venue: The Sportsground
Date: Saturday, 23rd November 2013
Kick-off: 17:00
TV Broadcasts: No TV (GBFM), Rabo Matchday Live
Referee: Matteo Liperini (FIR, 5th competition game)
MATCH DISCUSSION THREAD ON THE FORUM
Date: Saturday, 23rd November 2013
Kick-off: 17:00
TV Broadcasts: No TV (GBFM), Rabo Matchday Live
Referee: Matteo Liperini (FIR, 5th competition game)
MATCH DISCUSSION THREAD ON THE FORUM
Connacht are starting an XV which will surprise and shock more than a few Clanners. The first name that will jump out the XV is tha Darragh Leader who played against Glasgow at outside centre, has moved to the wing, as Poolman has picked up an injury, despite Fionn Carr apparently being available to play. Perhaps Carr's fitness is in question, but with Connacht's dearth of tries this season, leaving our record try-scorer on the bench in preference to an academy player is questionable.
Other than Darragh's inclusion (and good luck to him), the rest of the back-line is almost as expected, with Duffy at full-back, Marmion at scrum-half and (praise be!) the old centre pairing of Griffin and McSharry re-united at senior level once again. At out-half though Craig Ronaldson is preferred to Dan Parks, who has dropped to the bench. It may be that Lam is trusting to Ronaldson's attacking flair to Connacht over the whitewash or it may simply be that Parks has played a lot and is getting on in years.
The pack is another area where we see some unusual decisions. The first of those is the relocation of Aly Muldowney to the blindside flank of the scrum instead of his usual second row, where no doubt his natural combative nature will be welcome. He partners Heenan at openside and Masterson at Number 8. Both of those players are young and relatively inexperienced at this level, especially Masterson who is starting his first senior game. With two youngsters and a converted second row at blindside we may be looking at a drubbing from the very good and experienced Scarlets back row.
Elsewhere in the pack Craig Clarke is given the captain's armband over both Swift and Duffy, which is deserved based on his performance and attitude this season. Swifty though will be disappointed that his 250th cap (congrats!) is not one where he is captaining the side. In the front row Henry is starting at hooker, and it given the way he stepped up when given the chance Jason Harris-Wright may have his work cut out to win back his starting place.
The Scarlets have 10 players involved with their national side to Connacht's one. Despite this they are fielding a pretty strong side, especially up-front. In the absence of McCusker (injured) and Jonathan Davies (Wales) Phil John has taken on the captain's mantle against Ulster and now against Connacht and the experienced prop will relish these opportunities to lead the team, who have a play-off place in their sights. He is one that many Scarlet's fans will feel should have been involved with Wales over the Autumn internationals. Up front he is partnered by Myhill, the 21 year old ex-U20's captain and Adriaanse a South African who joined last season from Golden Lions. The backrow combination of Shingler, Turnbull and Timani is the same one which taught Ulster a harsh lesson recently, and will be gunning for our young fellas.
In the backs the versatile Gareth Owen starts at fullback, and the versatile Climo is starting his first Scarlet's match on the wing after getting off the plane from New Zealand. Both of these players are good kicking options for Scarlets if Aled Thomas cannot find his range. Maule and Warren in the centres are a settled pairing, having started together against Ulster though they are the second string compared to Jonathan Davies and Scott Williams. Aled Thomas and Gareth Davies are starting their first competitive match alongside one another (although they did play a half together against Ulster).
Overall the Scarlets backs are pretty thrown together, and if Connacht can line up some set-piece play against them then they may crack. That said Scarlets will almost definitely look to play 10-man rugby against Connacht, trusting their experienced pack to deliver the game. Connacht will need to work very hard to retain possession and utilise the space to let their more settled backs get time on the ball. With Ronaldson at 10 and our first choice centre pairing back on the pitch hopefully Connacht can get in behind Scarlets.