The Connacht team to face Wasps at the Sportsground tomorrow features four personnel changes from the side that lined out in Coventry five days ago.
With Stacey Ili sidelined through injury, 22-year-old Rory Parata is named in the centre for his first Champions Cup start while Ireland international Matt Healy comes on to the left wing for the injured Cian Kelleher.
Up front, international prop Finlay Bealham packs down with Denis Buckley and Tom McCartney. The back row is reshuffled with the introduction of Eoin McKeon at blindside flanker while Nepia Fox-Matamua shifts to openside in the absence of the injured Jake Heenan.
“With only nine fit backs available to us this week, it’s forced me to name a 6-2 split on the bench for the first time with Caolin Blade having to cover the outhalf position,” Head coach Pat Lam said.
“So with those injuries as well as the short turnaround, it’s been a fairly light week in terms of physical preparation out on the pitch. We’ve put a big emphasis on our mental prep and ensuring that we are all crystal clear in terms of what we need to do tomorrow afternoon.
“Without a doubt this game is massively important in the context of our European ambitions. Win and we’re back at the top of the pool and in a really good place after four rounds. That’s the outcome we all want, but it’s all about the performance first and foremost.”
Team to face @WaspsRugby at in Round 4 of @ChampionsCup tomorrow at the Sportsground. Naulia Dawai set to make his debut from the bench. pic.twitter.com/FZpIVvvKS3
— Connacht Rugby (@connachtrugby) December 16, 2016
Connacht v Wasps at the Sportsground on Saturday December 17 kick off 5.30pm.
Connacht: 15 Tiernan O’Halloran, 14 Niyi Adeolokun, 13 Rory Parata, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Matt Healy, 10 Jack Carty, 9 Kieran Marmion; 1 Denis Buckley, 2 Tom McCartney, 3 Finlay Bealham, 4 Ultan Dillane, 5 Quinn Roux, 6 Eoin McKeon, 7 Nepia Fox-Matamua, 8 John Muldoon – capt.
Replacements: 16 Dave Heffernan, 17 JP Cooney, 18 Conor Carey, 19 Lewis Stevenson, 20 Sean O’Brien, 21 Caolin Blade, 22 Danie Poolman, 23 Naulia Dawai.
