Connacht announce team to take on Leinster in their first inter-pro game

Eric Elwood has made a number of changes to his side as they prepare to take on the European Champions Leinster tomorrow night in the Sportsground. Robbie Henshaw replaces an injured Gavin Duffy in the fullback position. 19 year old Henshaw earned his first competitive start in Glasgow last week and had made a notable impact from the bench in all three previous league matches.

Both Tiernan O’Halloran and Fetu’u Vainikolo return to their starting positions on the wing while Eoin Griffin joins Dave McSharry in the centre.

Dan Parks makes a welcome return to rugby in his debut for the province tomorrow night as out half. Speaking to The Irish Times today Parks said that he is delighted to be fit again for this highly anticipated fixture:
"With the injury it’s been 16 weeks since I’ve played, now I’m dying to get out there. I never really lost it, but I feel revitalised. It’s made me appreciate how much I still love playing and being around rugby.”



Up front, Brett Wilkinson makes way for Denis Buckley as loosehead prop while former Leinster prop Nathan White, who also captains the side, starts again as tighthead prop.

Michael Swift, who earns his 150th league appearance on the eve of this derby game, slots back into the second row and is joined by fellow second rower Mike McCarthy.

Eoin McKeon who started the last two weeks in the number 8 position moves to blindside flanker and joins Johnny O’Connor and George Naoupu in the back row.

KO for Connacht v Leinster is 8pm in the Sportsground.

Connacht XV

15. Robbie Henshaw
14. Tiernan O’Halloran
13. Eoin Griffin
12. Dave McSharry
11. Fetu’u Vainikolo
10. Dan Parks YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
9. Kieran Marmion

1. Denis Buckley
2. Adrian Flavin
3. Nathan White (captain)
4. Michael Swift
5. Mike McCarthy
6. Eoin McKeon
7. Johnny O’Connor
8. George Naoupu

Replacements (from):

16. Jason Harris-Wright
17. Brett Wilkinson
18. Ronan Loughney
19. Dave Gannon
20. Willie Faloon
21. Dave Moore
22. Miah Nikora
23. Mata Fifita

sligsup wrote: My fifteen

15: TOH ( Although I slated him last week think he is the best alternative to Gav under the high ball and has a boot )
14: Fets ( Despite his flaws the amount of work he puts in off the ball is not recognised by alot of posters here and like it or not is the only one of our back who has that inate ability to create something from nothing and is dangerous given the right ball)
13 : Griffin ( Obvious choice )
12 : McShaz ( As he calls himself on twitter great tackler but needs to offload more often )
11 : Healy ( Alternative to loxton not impressed with what i seen never looked to get involved and offered little threat. )
10 : Carty (Young , fearless looks creative and if things arent going well we know Miah can come in and do a job )
9 : Moore ( Deserves a run crisp pass and in your face sh always making a nuiscance of himself )
1 : Denis ( Continually improving , run of games adding to his fitness although tight call )
2 : Flav ( Options thin here. Experience and match fitness )
3 : White ( Liked what i have seen and the knowledge on leinster props )
4 : Gannon ( Target there ball . Solid . Swifty to replace with twenty )
5 : Macca ( Self explanatory )
6 : Willie ( Like what I have seen and the more games he gets under his belt the better. Scavenger. )
7 : JOC ( Out of position but wont be left wanting )
8 : George ( As for Macca )
Subs JHW ; Brett ; Loughs ; Marmion ; Miah ; Swifty ; McKeown ; Fafita

:ohmy: :blink: :S

My fifteen

15: TOH ( Although I slated him last week think he is the best alternative to Gav under the high ball and has a boot )
14: Fets ( Despite his flaws the amount of work he puts in off the ball is not recognised by alot of posters here and like it or not is the only one of our back who has that inate ability to create something from nothing and is dangerous given the right ball)
13 : Griffin ( Obvious choice )
12 : McShaz ( As he calls himself on twitter great tackler but needs to offload more often )
11 : Healy ( Alternative to loxton not impressed with what i seen never looked to get involved and offered little threat. )
10 : Carty (Young , fearless looks creative and if things arent going well we know Miah can come in and do a job )
9 : Moore ( Deserves a run crisp pass and in your face sh always making a nuiscance of himself )
1 : Denis ( Continually improving , run of games adding to his fitness although tight call )
2 : Flav ( Options thin here. Experience and match fitness )
3 : White ( Liked what i have seen and the knowledge on leinster props )
4 : Gannon ( Target there ball . Solid . Swifty to replace with twenty )
5 : Macca ( Self explanatory )
6 : Willie ( Like what I have seen and the more games he gets under his belt the better. Scavenger. )
7 : JOC ( Out of position but wont be left wanting )
8 : George ( As for Macca )
Subs JHW ; Brett ; Loughs ; Marmion ; Miah ; Swifty ; McKeown ; Fafita

yup dats right rossie as pat would say

Heaslip isn't playing Friday.

i assume its kearney you are talking about for 2nd row devils own?

guys the skill level in the backline is extremely poor, duffy is contain the damage player, murphy is the laziest scrumhalf ever, loxtan, mcrea, jarvis are 3rd rate in IMHO sorry, flavin works hard but is prone to major mess ups when the pressure comes and nikora will never be a reliable 10. the coach needs to establish a set of basic rules 1. priority one, you work your ass off for the entire match that means tracking back when your team mate messes up. 2. establish a far higher degree of basic skill levels throughout the team right now bar a mistake from the oppostion this team is as far from clinical as you can get. 3. confidence that you can and should win each match that you run out to play for your province.
I think that Mata should play 12 make space and id play henshaw at 13 to work off him pace and power shoud be a handful together. if parks doesnt play carty should be given the 10 spot he showed more invention in his cameo than iv seen in all the previous matches. poolman should get a show to see what he can bring so stick him on the wing if he can play there alongside TOH. harris wright should come in at hooker for game time with nathan and brett (not a huge fan). naupou and faloon in back row, give anderson a run havent seen what he can do at all except in ulster where he was ok, mccarthy is a good second row maybe try kennedy alongside him to shake thing up, at fullback why not try someone new like tonetti or jarvis although im sure there is someone better...anyway thats my two cents

My 10 cents for the team:

O'Halloran; Griffin, Henshaw, McSharry, Vainkolo; Nikora, Marmion; Wilkinson, Flavin, White; MacCarthy, Naoupo; Jonny O'Connor, Willie O'Connor , McKeon. Subs: Harris-Wright, Buckley, Loughney, Swift, Kearney, Moore, Carty, Fifita.

Before anyone asks: White over Loughs as he's been away all week; Swift as an impact sub - could move George back to 8 - and Kearney for the same reason (JOC unlikely to make the 80). That'd be a nice set of forward subs to roll on.

i agree with you re carty but i think its too big a call for eric to make given how results have gone to give him his first competitive start at home to the european champs.

I see your point. My thinking is do what Ulster do ala Paddy Jackson or the rest of their young guns and throw them in the deep end and see if they sink or swim.

1. Wilkinson
2. Reynecke( havent seen JHW yet)*
3. Loughney
4. Swift
5. Mccarthy
6. Muldoon*
7. Faloon
8. Naupu
9. F Murphy*
10. Parks*
11. O halloran
12. Mcsharry
13. Griffin
14. Poolman*
15. Duffy*

16. Harris-Wright
17. Buckley
18. White
19. Gannon
20. O connor
21. Moore
22. Nikora
23. Tonetti*

I just put this together as the team that i would like to see take the field on friday night if everyone was available. That means(assuming eric agrees) that 6 starters and one reserve are unavailable through injury. i wonder how that compares to other teams on a weekly basis?

i agree with you re carty but i think its too big a call for eric to make given how results have gone to give him his first competitive start at home to th european champs. My reckoning on white/loughs is purely based on he has started last two so loughs is fresher.

It's one of those things eh? I'd rather have Loxton than Vainikolo as Loxton can handle high balls as far as I know. Now that JHW is fit its a given that he'll go straight to the bench. I can't believe I forgot Hemshaw! After Griffin's abject attempt of the a tackle against the Scarlets which cost us a try and as you guys mentions Hemshaw's very good defensive display he'd be my 13. As for Carty at least he tried things and I'd rather give him the greater gametime then watch Nikora boot the ball straight down the pitch. The reason I'd have White as 3 as well is he'd know the guys after training and playing with them so might be in a better position to put one over on them.

Imo loughney will start and white on bench. JHW will replace o byrne on bench. i agree that mckeon will be ahead of Kearney but may switch with joc and sit on bench. Nikora will start with carty on bench henshaw will go to the wing with TOH to fullback and Mcauley losing out altogether.

That would be my changes to your pick exile.

As last week's defensive player of the game (no great shakes given the tackling etc. and so on I hear you say) Henshaw will surely make the 23 (in place of McAuley I'd wager) as will McKeon after some solid performances (at the expense of Kearney maybe). Harris-Wright is off the injured list so I'd expect him to come in for O'Byrne and Vainkolo to come in for Loxton, who played last week's game like an NFL receiver trying to stop the clock.

The other 19 you've named look nailed on for the squad, though whether they start and where might differ.

Oh Guy we're blushing :oops: Gonna be interesting who we have out as our first XV. I'd like this squad:

15. Richard McAuley
14. Tiernan O'Halloran
13. Eoin Griffin (edit Robbie Hemshaw instead)
12. Dave McSharry
11. James Loxton
10. Jack Carty
9. Kieran Marmion
8. Geroge Naopou
7. Willie Faloon
6. Mick Kearney
5. Mike McCarthy
4. Mike Swift
3. Nathan White
2. Adrian Flavin
1. Brett Wilkinson

16. O'Byrne (edit: JHW now that he's fit)
17. Buckley
18. Loughney
19. Gannon
20. JOC
21. Moore
22. Nikora
23. Fifita

We've a decent pack but are backs are either out of form or very young and inexperienced. That said youth has been playing well for us so I don't see why we shouldn't continue to give them chances.

Good to read Guy Easterby has his finger on the pulse as per, according to the IT when discussing his opponents this Friday:

“They made a decision to rest half of what would be termed their first-choice side I GUESS, so it looks like they are particularly targeting Friday night,” observed Easterby. “Their squad depth has definitely improved because it was a narrow loss to Glasgow."