2022 Heineken Cup Rugby – Connacht v Leinster

A potential crowd is anticipated to be in attendance for Connacht’s initially overall look in the Champions Cup knockout stages, and Head Mentor Andy Good friend is in a position to welcome back a number of critical gamers just in time for the occasion.

British & Irish Lion Bundee Aki returns for his initial visual appeal because right before the 6 Nations, when there is also a 1st get started of the time for Gavin Thornbury immediately after an spectacular cameo off the bench final weekend following an 11 month absence.

The 3rd and closing modify is the inclusion of club captain Jarrad Butler just after missing the earn more than Benetton through harm.

He types a back again row with flankers Cian Prendergast and Conor Oliver, although Leva Fifita associates Thornbury. The entrance row of Matthew Burke, Dave Heffernan and Finlay Bealham is unchanged.

Match captain Jack Carty starts off at 10 beside Kieran Marmion, though Aki will have Tom Farrell for business at outside the house centre. A back again a few of whole-back Tiernan O’Halloran and wingers Mack Hansen and John Porch completes the facet.

Commenting on the team announcement, Andy Pal claims:

“There’s a large perception of exhilaration among all the players and management for tomorrow night time. These are the type of video games you want to be associated in, and with a capability group guiding us it’s going to be a terrific situation and one we firmly think we can get.

We have over 45 players teaching between our Professionals and integrated Academy players so which is a good area to be at this stage of the period, and it is given the coaches some head aches for our squad variety as effectively.”

Leinster Staff News

Owning integrated some of the returning internationals into the lineup for previous weekend’s win at Thomond Park, Cullen has included captain Johnny Sexton into the matchday squad this week.

The St Mary’s Faculty male will be joined in the fifty percent-backs by Luke McGrath, participating in inside the same again line that begun versus Munster.

Hugo Keenan continues to be at entire-again with Jimmy O’Brien, scorer of 4 tries in Leinster’s past European outing, and James Lowe on the wings.

Garry Ringrose as soon as yet again associates Robbie Henshaw in midfield.

In the pack, Cullen has produced wholesale changes to the front 5 with Cian Healy, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong, Ross Molony and Josh Murphy coming in.

Powering them, the again row of Caelan Doris, Josh van der Flier and Jack Conan goes unchanged.

The replacements bench contains James Tracy, Ed Byrne, Michael Ala’alatoa, Devin Toner, Max Deegan, Jamison Gibson-Park, Ross Byrne and Ciarán Frawley.

CONNACHT RUGBY MATCHDAY 23 

Friday 8th April, 20:00 @ The Sportsground

Amount/Identify/Caps
15. Tiernan O’Halloran (203)
14. John Porch (54)
13. Tom Farrell (75)
12. Bundee Aki (115)
11. Mack Hansen (10)
10. Jack Carty (175) (C)
9. Kieran Marmion (204)
1. Matthew Burke (36)
2. Dave Heffernan (160)
3. Finlay Bealham (170)
4. Gavin Thornbury (59)
5. Leva Fifita (11)
6. Cian Prendergast (26)
7. Conor Oliver (37)
8. Jarrad Butler (91)

Replacements
16. Dylan Tierney-Martin (2)
17. Tietie Tuimauga (9)
18. Jack Aungier (27)
19. Oisín Dowling (21)
20. Abraham Papali’i (22)
21. Caolin Blade (146)
22. Conor Fitzgerald (48)
23. Sammy Arnold (35)

Leinster Rugby team v Connacht (appearances in brackets):

15. Hugo Keenan (39)
14. Jimmy O’Brien (46)
13. Garry Ringrose (95)
12. Robbie Henshaw (61)
11. James Lowe (60)
10. Johnny Sexton CAPTAIN (178)
9. Luke McGrath (168)

1. Cian Healy (242)
2. Dan Sheehan (22)
3. Tadhg Furlong (120)
4. Ross Molony (132)
5. Josh Murphy (56)
6. Caelan Doris (48)
7. Josh van der Flier (107)
8. Jack Conan (110)

Replacements: 

16. James Tracy (140)
17. Ed Byrne (81)
18. Michael Ala’alatoa (17)
19. Devin Toner (277)
20. Max Deegan (81)
21. Jamison Gibson-Park (109)
22. Ross Byrne (121)
23. Ciarán Frawley (48)

Referee – Karl Dickson (RFU)