Rugby

Connacht arrive to Aviva with strong team and high hopes

Leinster make 13 changes in personnel from the team that beat French side Clermont Auvergne last weekend

Alex Soroka during Leinster squad training at Rosemount, UCD. Photograph: Nick Elliott/Inpho
Alex Soroka during Leinster squad training at Rosemount, UCD. Photograph: Nick Elliott/Inpho
Johnny Watterson
Sat Dec 21 2024 - 06:00
United Rugby Championship: Leinster v Connacht
Aviva Stadium, Saturday, 5.30pm (Live on Premier Sports)

Leinster playing in the Aviva Stadium will always be tipped to win on any day, but Connacht arrive after two successful outings in the Challenge Cup and will fancy their chances at having a go at the unbeaten home side.

However, seven wins in the United Rugby Championship (URC) and two in the Champions Cup make for quite the season so far for Leinster, although they have accepted that their outing against Clermont Auvergne last week could have been better all round.

Leinster still have half a dozen international players injured including James Lowe, Tadhg Furlong, Jamie Osborne, Dan Sheehan and Hugo Keenan, and overall coach Leo Cullen makes 13 changes to the starting side from last Saturday.

Part of that has Jordie Barrett switching to inside centre and Jimmy O’Brien moving from the wing to full-back and the addition of five academy players. It is also pleasing to see Alex Soroka in the Leinster backrow for his first match of the season following injury. Jack Conan captains the side.

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Connacht arrive with their international trio Bundee Aki, Mack Hansen and Finlay Bealham all starting for the first time since the November international series, with two other players from the Irish squad, captain Cian Prendergast and Dave Heffernan, also in the team.

Outhalf Josh Ioane plays for the first time since late October, and Bristol signing fullback Piers O’Conor also returns from injury giving Connacht a little bit more edge. Expecting a tough battle up front, coach Pete Wilkins has also gone for a 6-2 split on the Connacht bench.

Connacht's Josh Ioane during squad training at Dexcom Stadium, Galway. Photograph: Ben Brady/Inpho
Connacht's Josh Ioane during squad training at Dexcom Stadium, Galway. Photograph: Ben Brady/Inpho

“We’re under no illusions as to the task ahead of us but that makes it all the more exciting,” said Wilkins. “To play a Christmas interpro at the Aviva Stadium against one of the best teams in Europe is a brilliant opportunity to test where we’re at.

“It’s great to have more of our international contingent back, as well as a few players returning from injury, and after the win last weekend we will travel to Dublin with plenty of optimism, albeit conscious of the challenge ahead.”

Unbeaten Leinster top the URC table with 34 points, with Connacht in eighth place with four defeats from seven games.

Leinster: Jimmy O’Brien; Aitzol Arenzana-King, Charlie Tector, Jordie Barrett, Andrew Osborne; Ross Byrne, Luke McGrath; Jack Boyle, Gus McCarthy, Rabah Slimani, Diarmuid Mangan, RG Snyman, Alex Soroka, Scott Penny, Jack Conan (capt). Replacements: Lee Barron, Michael Milne, Cian Healy, Brian Deeny, Ryan Baird, Jamison Gibson-Park, Harry Byrne, Max Deegan.

Connacht: Piers O’Conor; Mack Hansen, Cathal Forde, Bundee Aki, Shane Jennings; Josh Ioane, Ben Murphy; Denis Buckley, Dave Heffernan, Finlay Bealham, Josh Murphy, Darragh Murray, Cian Prendergast (capt), Shamus Hurley-Langton, Paul Boyle. Replacements: Dylan Tierney-Martin, Jordan Duggan, Jack Aungier, Oisín Dowling, Sean Jansen, Caolin Blade, Santiago Cordero, Conor Oliver.

Referee: Chris Busby (IRFU).

Johnny Watterson

Johnny Watterson

Johnny Watterson is a sports writer with The Irish Times

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