Connacht Rugby head coach Pat Lam.

Lam names squad for PRO12 final

AHEAD of this afternoon's Captain's Run at Murrayfield, Connacht head coach Pat Lam has named his match day squad to take on Leinster Rugby in the Guinness PRO12 final tomorrow (5.30 p.m., live on SKY Sports and TG4).

For the first time all season, the Connacht coach has made no changes to the match day 23 from the last fixture.

Galway native John Muldoon, in his 275th game for the province, will captain the side, and he will be joined in the back row by flankers Eoin McKeon and Jake Heenan.

Finlay Bealham and Ultan Dillane, two of five Connacht players named this week in the Ireland squad for next month's tour to South Africa, start up front. Tighthead Bealham is the only player to have featured in all 31 games for the province this season.

Ireland internationals Kieran Marmion and Robbie Henshaw are named in the back line, with AJ MacGinty once again handed the reigns at outhalf. Niyi Adeolokun - last weekend's try scorer against Glasgow Warriors - lines out on the right wing. Ballina man Dave Heffernan is among the replacements.

Commenting on the game, Lam said: “It's exciting that this is the first time in 31 games that we've been able to name the same match day squad from one week to the next. These 23 players are the fortunate ones who have earned the opportunity to wear the jersey and represent their team-mates and the whole of Connacht in our first final.

“We know how tough it will be against Leinster, who have a huge amount of experience in finals. But we know that if we stick to our structures and systems and channel all the emotion and physicality into our performance, we have a real chance of making history.”