Connacht head coach Pat Lam has named his match day squad to take on Glasgow Warriors in the sold out PRO12 play-off semi-final tomorrow evening at the Sportsground.
Team Announcement: #GUINNESSPRO12 play-off - @Connachtrugby v @GlasgowWarriors https://t.co/97de1n25Uo pic.twitter.com/CLm1fA5aIt
— PRO12RUGBY (@PRO12rugby) May 20, 2016
Galway man Eoin McKeon comes into the back row and is the only change to the starting XV that played against the same opposition a fortnight ago.
John Muldoon captains the side from the base of the scrum in what will be the Portumna man’s 274th game for the province.
The back line remains unchanged with try scorer from the last game Bundee Aki and Ireland international Robbie Henshaw retained in midfield. Niyi Adeolokun and the league’s top try scorer Matt Healy line out on the wings.
Andrew Browne is brought into the match day squad and joins Sean O’Brien among the replacement forwards.
Connacht won the match between the two sides earlier in the month, but know that win is no guarantee of victory tomorrow.
“We are under no illusions when it comes to the challenge we face against the defending champions Glasgow who are stacked with players with plenty of experience of test match and knock out rugby,” Lam said when announcing the team.
“We know they will be much stronger than they were two weeks ago but if we channel our physicality and the excitement into our game, we will be able to meet that challenge head on.”
Connacht Rugby v Glasgow Warriors at The Sportsground, Saturday May 21 – kick-off 6.30pm
Connacht's @tiernanoh11 scores after a cross-field kick v #Glasgow! Who's ready for the playoffs? #GUINNESSPRO12https://t.co/SO0L2PMeM4
— PRO12RUGBY (@PRO12rugby) May 19, 2016
Connacht team: 15. Tiernan O’Halloran, 14. Niyi Adeolokun, 13. Robbie Henshaw, 12. Bundee Aki, 11. Matt Healy, 10. AJ MacGinty, 9. Kieran Marmion; 1. Ronan Loughney, 2. Tom McCartney, 3. Finlay Bealham, 4. Ultan Dillane, 5. Aly Muldowney, 6. Eoin McKeon, 7. Jake Heenan, 8. John Muldoon – capt.
Replacements: 16. Dave Heffernan, 17. JP Cooney, 18. Rodney Ah You, 19. Andrew Browne, 20. Sean O’Brien, 21. John Cooney, 22. Shane O’Leary, 23. Peter Robb.
