Carty and Henshaw set to start as Murray suffers injury blow

Pictured above: Jack Carty (right) with Connacht and Ireland colleagues Bundee Aki and Kieran Marmion.

Jack Carty and Robbie Henshaw have been selected on the Connacht and Leinster rugby teams respectively for this weekend's Guinness PRO14 games.

Having scored 13 points in the opening round win over Glasgow Warriors, Carty retains his place at out-half on the Connacht team to play Cardiff Blues at Rodney Parade on Saturday (7.35pm).

Meanwhile, Coosan native Henshaw is set to make his first appearance of the season for Leinster against Benetton of Italy in Stadio Monigo tomorrow (Saturday, kick-off 5.15pm).

Both Carty and Henshaw have been named in Ireland's 35-man squad for the final two rounds of the 2020 Six Nations Championship against Italy (Dublin, October 24) and France (Paris, October 31).

However, Brideswell native and promising Connacht lock forward Niall Murray is facing a spell on the sidelines due to injury. Murray was introduced as a substitute in Connacht's 28-24 victory over Glasgow.

Niall underwent shoulder surgery this week and is expected to be out of action until January.

There are two changes to the Connacht team from the Glasgow game, with Eoghan Masterson and Sammy Arnold coming in at blindside flanker and centre respectively.

Looking forward to the clash against Cardiff Blues, Connacht head coach Andy Friend said: “We were very pleased to pick up the win last week and the way the squad took control of the game in the second half. That said, we are targeting two wins from these first two games so the job is only half done. Rodney Parade is a tough place to go but I have full confidence in the squad we have selected to go over and get the win.

"Unfortunately we will be without Niall Murray for a lengthy period, but we are able to welcome back Ultan Dillane while Shane Delahunt has served his suspension so we are in a good place overall.”

Meanwhile, the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) has confirmed that testing of players and staff across the four provinces has produced four positive Covid-19 cases ahead of this weekend's fixtures.

A total of 564 tests were carried out on players and staff across the four provinces this week. Additional testing was carried out in Munster and Ulster following positive results. However, all four provinces have been cleared to play their fixtures.

Connacht rugby squad v Cardiff Blues

15. John Porch

14. Peter Sullivan

13. Sammy Arnold

12. Bundee Aki

11. Alex Wootton

10. Jack Carty

9. Kieran Marmion

1. Denis Buckley

2. Dave Heffernan

3. Finlay Bealham

4. Gavin Thornbury

5. Quinn Roux

6. Eoghan Masterson

7. Conor Oliver

8. Jarrad Butler (captain)

Replacements

16. Shane Delahunt

17. Jordan Duggan

18. Jack Aungier

19. Ultan Dillane

20. Paul Boyle

21. Stephen Kerins

22. Conor Fitzgerald

23. Tom Daly

Leinster rugby squad v Benetton

15. Hugo Keenan

14. Jordan Larmour

13. Garry Ringrose (captain)

12. Robbie Henshaw

11. James Lowe

10. Ross Byrne

9. Jamison Gibson-Park

1. Ed Byrne

2. James Tracy

3. Michael Bent

4. Ryan Baird

5. James Ryan

6. Caelan Doris

7. Will Connors

8. Jack Conan

Replacements

16. Seán Cronin

17. Cian Healy

18. Tom Clarkson

19. Ross Molony

20. Rhys Ruddock

21. Luke McGrath

22. Harry Byrne

23. Jimmy O’Brien