Henshaw returns to Connacht ranks for Warriors clash

The Connacht team to face Glasgow Warriors in Sunday’s round 13 RaboDirect PRO12 clash at Scotstoun Stadium (2pm) has been named and there are a number of changes to the team that lined out against Saracens three weeks ago.

Included in the side is Robbie Henshaw, who has been part of the senior Ireland squad in the last number of weeks, and fellow Athlone native, Jack Carty.

Out-half Carty has been handed his third start of the season by head coach Pat Lam and the 21-year-old will play alongside scrum-half Kieran Marmion, who earned his first Ireland Wolfhounds cap in the victory over England Saxons during the break. Craig Ronaldson returns from injury to partner Galway-born Eoin Griffin in the centre, while Ireland international Henshaw has been released back to his province to start at full-back this week in place of the injured Gavin Duffy.

Fionn Carr starts on the right wing for his 100th league game, while Connacht’s joint top try scorer of the season (with Marmion) Matt Healy is named on the left. Up front, Roscommon-born prop Denis Buckley secures his first start of the season in an all new front row with Rodney Ah You and Jason Harris-Wright. Andrew Browne moves into the second row to partner the incoming Mick Kearney. John Muldooncaptains the side from a back row berth with Jake Heenan and George Naoupu.

Speaking about the team selection and the upcoming game, Pat Lam said: “It’s obviously a big disappointment for us losing Craig (Clarke), (Nathan) Whitey, Sean (Henry) and Brett (Wilkinson) - four of the front-liners from our forward pack. But we have full confidence in our squad and this is another opportunity for our younger forwards to step up, with a start this week. Having Robbie (Henshaw) back in the starting XV is a bonus, especially with Gavin (Duffy) unavailable this week. The versatility of our young backs allows Robbie to move to full back and Craig (Ronaldson) to slip into inside centre with Eoin (Griffin) moving outside him. Playing Glasgow is a huge test for us. They are a very direct side with one of the best defensive structures in the entire league. Connacht has never won at Scotstoun and this is something we want to change.”

 

Connacht line-up v Glasgow Warriors:

15. Robbie Henshaw
14. Fionn Carr
13. Eoin Griffin
12. Craig Ronaldson
11. Matt Healy
10. Jack Carty
9.  Kieran Marmion

1.  Denis Buckley
2.  Jason Harris-Wright
3.  Rodney Ah You
4.  Mick Kearney
5.  Andrew Browne
6.  John Muldoon (captain)
7.  Jake Heenan
8.  George Naoupu

Replacements:

16. Dave Heffernan
17. Ronan Loughney
18. JP Cooney
19. Michael Swift
20. Aly Muldowney
21. Paul O’Donohoe
22. Dan Parks 
23. Darragh Leader.

Unavailable/Injured:  Brett Wilkinson, Nathan White, Sean Henry, Craig Clarke, Dave Nolan, Willie Faloon, Eoin McKeon, Aaron Conneely, Gavin Duffy, Danie Poolman, and Kyle Tonetti.