Glasgow bring a strong side to the Sportsground, having had their winning streak broken at home against Munster.
CONNACHT
Starting XV: 15 Gavin Duffy, 14 Fionn Carr, 13 Darragh Leader, 12 Dave McSharry, 11 Matt Healy, 10 Dan Parks, 9 Kieran Marmion
1 Brett Wilkinson, 2 Jason Harris-Wright, 3 Rodney Ah You, 4 Michael Swift (C), 5 Craig Clarke, 6 Mata Fifita, 7 Jake Heenan, 8 George Naoupu
Replacements: 16 Dave Heffernan, 17 JP Cooney, 18 Nathan White, 19 Aly Muldowney 20 Mick Kearney, 21 Paul O’Donohoe, 22 Craig Ronaldson, 23 Tiernan O’Halloran
Unavailable/Injured: Andrew Browne, Aaron Conneely, Willie Faloon, Conor Finn, Eoin Griffin, Sean Henry, Robbie Henshaw, Eoin McKeon, John Muldoon, Miah Nikora, Rory Parata, Danie Poolman, Peter Reilly, and Kyle Tonetti
Starting XV: 15 Gavin Duffy, 14 Fionn Carr, 13 Darragh Leader, 12 Dave McSharry, 11 Matt Healy, 10 Dan Parks, 9 Kieran Marmion
1 Brett Wilkinson, 2 Jason Harris-Wright, 3 Rodney Ah You, 4 Michael Swift (C), 5 Craig Clarke, 6 Mata Fifita, 7 Jake Heenan, 8 George Naoupu
Replacements: 16 Dave Heffernan, 17 JP Cooney, 18 Nathan White, 19 Aly Muldowney 20 Mick Kearney, 21 Paul O’Donohoe, 22 Craig Ronaldson, 23 Tiernan O’Halloran
Unavailable/Injured: Andrew Browne, Aaron Conneely, Willie Faloon, Conor Finn, Eoin Griffin, Sean Henry, Robbie Henshaw, Eoin McKeon, John Muldoon, Miah Nikora, Rory Parata, Danie Poolman, Peter Reilly, and Kyle Tonetti
Glasgow Warriors
Starting XV: 15 Niko Matawalu, 14 Byron McGuigan, 13 Mark Bennett, 12 Gabriel Ascarate, 11 DTH van der Merwe, 10 Duncan Weir, 9 Chris Cusiter (c)
1 Gordon Reid, 2 Dougie Hall, 3 Jon Welsh, 4 Tom Ryder, 5 Jonny Gray, 6 Rob Harley, 7 Chris Fusaro, 8 Josh Strauss
Replacements: 16 Fraser Brown, 17 Moray Low, 18 Ed Kalman, 19 Richie Vernon, 20 Leone Nakarawa, 21 Tyrone Holmes, 22 Scott Wight, 23 Finn Russell
Unavailable/Injured: Mike Cusack (shoulder), Alex Dunbar (neck/shoulder), Finlay Gillies (hamstring), Stuart Hogg (wrist), Peter Horne (knee), Peter Murchie (shoulder) and Ryan Wilson (shoulder)
Starting XV: 15 Niko Matawalu, 14 Byron McGuigan, 13 Mark Bennett, 12 Gabriel Ascarate, 11 DTH van der Merwe, 10 Duncan Weir, 9 Chris Cusiter (c)
1 Gordon Reid, 2 Dougie Hall, 3 Jon Welsh, 4 Tom Ryder, 5 Jonny Gray, 6 Rob Harley, 7 Chris Fusaro, 8 Josh Strauss
Replacements: 16 Fraser Brown, 17 Moray Low, 18 Ed Kalman, 19 Richie Vernon, 20 Leone Nakarawa, 21 Tyrone Holmes, 22 Scott Wight, 23 Finn Russell
Unavailable/Injured: Mike Cusack (shoulder), Alex Dunbar (neck/shoulder), Finlay Gillies (hamstring), Stuart Hogg (wrist), Peter Horne (knee), Peter Murchie (shoulder) and Ryan Wilson (shoulder)
Venue: The Sportsground
Date: Saturday, 01nd November 2013
Kick-off: 17:00
TV Broadcasts: No TV (GBFM), Rabo Matchday Live
Referee: Neil Paterson (SRU, 55th competition game)
MATCH DISCUSSION THREAD ON THE FORUM
Date: Saturday, 01nd November 2013
Kick-off: 17:00
TV Broadcasts: No TV (GBFM), Rabo Matchday Live
Referee: Neil Paterson (SRU, 55th competition game)
MATCH DISCUSSION THREAD ON THE FORUM
Connacht welcome back Dave McSharry to the starting side this week, after the inside centre recovered from a long-term injury that has seen him sidelined for ten months. McSharry is joined in the centre by Darragh Leader, who is called up as Robbie Henshaw was not released from the Irish camp this week. Gavin Duffy starts at full-back, and is joined in the back three by Carr and Healy.
Up front the pack is unchanged from last weeks match against Leinster. On the bench the only change is that Kearney is recalled to the side to offer back-row cover in place of Andrew Browne, who has joined the injured player list. Leader and Carr have swapped with Ronaldson and O'Halloran as subs this week.
Warriors are missing the services of the excellent Maitland this week at full-back, but they have included in his place the live-wire Fijian Nikola Matawalu, who had his citing for biting quashed this week. Lamont is also replaced at inside centre by Gabriel Ascarte a 29 year old Argentinian with 8 caps for his country. Up front Dougie Hall starts at hooker in place of Pat MacArthur. Aside from that the Glasgow backline is unchanged from the side that went out against Munster.
This Glasgow side have an excellent lineout option in the form or Jonny Gray, the brother of Richie. Although slightly shorter at 6'6'' (versus 6'10''), Jonny is just as athletic as his older brother and will look to carry in open-field if possible. In the backrow keep an eye on the ever present Rob Harley, a red-haired menace at the breakdown, who caused Connacht untold trouble in this fixutre last year. Expect Josh Strauss to carry a lot for Glasgow especially with Lamont missing from inside centre.
Connacht obviously will need to watch their penalty count in order to stay competitive in this match. The referee last week was not the clearest to be fair, and liked the sound of the whistle, but Patterson can be just as pedantic. With McSharry back Connacht will have another option to carry from the centre of the field and so there may be more time for Parks as the defence looks to keep an eye on Dave.
Are we going to see another kicking game from Connacht tomorrow? Kicking to a player like Matawalu who is flanked by the ever-dangerous DTH van der Merve may not be the best idea, but a few testing Garryowens to McGuigan's wing might be worth a go. Leader versus Bennett will be an interesting head to head of two young academy players from both camps.
Connacht have the class to win this if they maintain their form, and up their discipline. It would be fitting to avenge the last game of last season which saw us bid farewell to so many good Connacht men after a disappointing performance against this same team.
