European Challenge Cup: Connacht coach Michael Bradley has made seven changes in personnel and two positional switches from the side that lost to Munster for tonight's European Challenge Cup game against Montpellier at the Sportsground.
A couple of those alterations were enforced by injuries to prop Ray Hogan and wing Conor McPhillips; others appear part of the rotation policy.
Keith Matthews moves from centre to wing, Gavin Williams partners Paul Warwick in midfield and Ted Robinson is named on the left wing. David Slemen takes over from Mark McHugh at outhalf, while Conor O'Loughlin starts at scrumhalf ahead of Chris Keane. Brett Wilkinson and Adrian Flavin come into the front row. Michael Swift is named at blindside flanker. Johnny Muldoon moves to number eight.
Colm Rigney can feel slightly aggrieved at warming the bench following a fine performance at Thomond Park, as can John Fogarty, also prominent the last day.
Of those sprung from the bench against Munster, O'Loughlin's crisp passing certainly had an effect, and Williams's direct running gained serious yardage.
There was much to admire in that performance against Munster, including Connacht's set-piece play and continuity. Their main fault was an inability to translate line breaks and field position into points.
At times the player in possession had little option but to take ball into contact or ship it on to a poorly placed colleague. Lines of running have to be cleverer; communication has to be better.
Connacht need to create room to maximise the impact of fullback Daniel Riordan, a lively presence with a neat step.
They also need to involve their back row more in attack, using the athleticism of Muldoon and Ray Ofisa to supplement back-line gambits.
Bradley knows tonight's opponents well, Connacht having met Montpellier four times in the last two Challenge Cup campaigns. The Irish province lead 3-1, the French side's only victory coming, however, at the Sportsground.
A feature of Connacht's campaign so far has been the agonising narrowness of their two defeats. Tonight offers an opportunity to ease the heartache.
CONNACHT: D Riordan; K Matthews, P Warwick, G Williams, T Robinson; D Slemen, C O'Loughlin; B Wilkinson, A Flavin, S Knoop; D Gannon, A Farley (capt); M Swift, R Ofisa, J Muldoon. Replacements: J Fogarty, B Sturgess, B O'Connor, C Rigney, C Keane, M McHugh, J Hearty.
MONTPELLIER: O Sarraméa; J Boussuge, R Lespinas, H Crane, A Koko; F Trinh Duc, J Tomas; N Descamps, J Caudullo, A Vigna; G Uva, M Macurdy; M Durand, F Ouedraogo, J Russell. Replacements: N Grelon, P Toleafoa, D Hancke, C Mathieu, S Logerot, M Taele, JM Alcalde.
Referee: S Davey(England).
Previous meetings: (Challenge Cup) - December 2004: Montpellier 3 Connacht 56; Connacht 14 Montpellier 19; October 2005: Montpellier 13 Connacht 19; January 2006: Connacht 43 Montpellier 10.
Results so far: Bath 21 Connacht 19; Connacht 18 Harlequins 19. Harlequins 57 Montpellier 10; Montpellier 14 Bath 21.
Leading points scorers: Connacht- Paul Warwick 22. Montpellier- Sebastien Mercier, Martin Durand, Jharay Russell, P Tolefoa 5 each.
Leading try scorers: Connacht- Daniel Riordan, John Hearty, Colm Rigney 1 each. Montpellier- Sebastien Mercier, Martin Durand, Jharay Russell, P Tolefoa 1 each.
