Connacht and Leinster teams named for European tests
Connacht have welcomed back a number of Irish internationals for Sunday’s Heineken Champions Cup opener away to Racing 92 (kick-off 3.15pm Irish time).
Athlone native Jack Carty starts at out-half while Tom Daly and Sammy Arnold continue to pair-up in the centre.
Buccaneers duo Dave Heffernan and Finlay Bealham have been named in the starting line-up, as has Ultan Dillane who was released from the Ireland squad last week.
Heffernan and Bealham are joined by Denis Buckley in the front row, while Dillane is partnered by Eoghan Masterson to complete the tight five.
Jarrad Butler captains the side from openside flanker in a back row that also includes Sean Masterson and Paul Boyle.
There is a return to the match-day squad for Tiernan O’Halloran, with the Clifden native recovering from injury to be named among the replacements.
Connacht have also confirmed that due to a first positive case within the pro squad, one player and three others deemed as close contacts have been ruled out of the game. Those close contacts and all other players and management underwent a second round of PCR testing yesterday (Thursday) and produced no further positive results.
Commenting on his team selection, Connacht head coach Andy Friend said: “Welcoming back a number of our international players is a big boost for us. Sunday is the start of seven very significant games so it’s great to have them re-joining a squad which is already pretty healthy. I know they’ll all to be eager to hit the ground running.
“Unfortunately, we have been slightly disrupted by a positive case within our bubble, but we appreciate this is the world we are living in right now. I’ve said from the start that the team that adapts the most will be the team to succeed, and we have adapted accordingly.”
Regarding the game itself, Friend added: “There’s arguably no bigger challenge in European rugby than what we’ve got this weekend, but it’s one we’re absolutely relishing. They’re full of talent across the field in an impressive stadium, but in the end of the day we must back ourselves from the get-go and fully believe we can get a result. If we do that and bring the level of energy and physicality that I know we’re capable of, then the result will take care of itself.”
Meanwhile, Robbie Henshaw makes his 50th appearance in Leinster colours against Montpellier in the first round of the Heineken Champions Cup in the GGL Stadium tomorrow (Saturday, KO 5.30pm).
Jimmy O'Brien has recovered from a back injury to take his place at full-back and will make his European debut.
Ciarán Frawley makes his first start in Europe after a number of impressive performances and he will be partnered in the centre by Henshaw.
The half back pairing sees Luke McGrath at scrum-half and Ross Byrne selected in the number ten jersey.
Rhys Ruddock captains the side from blindside flanker, with Josh van der Flier on the openside.
Among the replacements are a number of players returning from international duty including Johnny Sexton and James Ryan who have recovered from their respective injuries to take their place on the bench.
Connacht squad v Racing 92
(Sunday, December 13, Paris La Defense Arena)
15. John Porch (24 caps)
14. Alex Wootton (7)
13. Sammy Arnold (7)
12. Tom Daly (31)
11. Matt Healy (139)
10. Jack Carty (144)
9. Kieran Marmion (170)
1. Denis Buckley (185)
2. Dave Heffernan (132)
3. Finlay Bealham (144)
4. Eoghan Masterson (97)
5. Ultan Dillane (101)
6. Sean Masterson (5)
7. Jarrad Butler, captain (62)
8. Paul Boyle (45)
Replacements
16. Shane Delahunt (83)
17. Jordan Duggan (3)
18. Jack Aungier (7)
19. Cian Prendergast (2)
20. Conor Oliver (7)
21. Caolin Blade (115)
22. Bundee Aki (103)
23. Tiernan O’Halloran (184)
Leinster squad v Montpellier
15. Jimmy O’Brien (24 caps)
14. Hugo Keenan (20)
13. Robbie Henshaw (49)
12. Ciarán Frawley (30)
11. Dave Kearney (154)
10. Ross Byrne (91)
9. Luke McGrath (134)
1. Peter Dooley (81)
2. James Tracy (116)
3. Michael Bent (147)
4. Devin Toner (254)
5. Scott Fardy (66)
6. Rhys Ruddock (180), captain
7. Josh van der Flier (85)
8. Caelan Doris (34)
Replacements
16. Rónan Kelleher (16)
17. Cian Healy (222)
18. Andrew Porter (67)
19. James Ryan (41)
20. Ryan Baird (14)
21. Jamison Gibson-Park (95)
22. Johnny Sexton (168)
23. Dan Leavy (68)
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