Mayo pair ready to front up for Connacht against Munster

Mayo pair Matthew Burke and Dave Heffernan maintain their starting places in the front row for a Connacht team that shows five changes for their United Rugby Championship interpro clash with Munster this weekend.

Finlay Bealham joins them in an unchanged front row, while Niall Murray comes into the second row alongside Ultan Dillane. Conor Oliver will start at openside flanker, with Cian Prendergast on the opposite flank and Paul Boyle at number eight.

In the backs, British & Irish Lion Bundee Aki will make his first appearance for Connacht since the summer tour of South Africa, forming a new-look partnership with Sammy Arnold at centre, while John Porch is drafted into the back three alongside fellow winger Mack Hansen and full-back Tiernan O’Halloran.

Caolin Blade and Jack Carty are retained at half-back, with Carty named as captain for the game.

The Connacht management team have opted for a 6-2 split on the bench, with back rowers Abraham Papali’i and Jarrad Butler both included, as well as Kieran Marmion. Summer arrival Greg McGrath is also in line for his Connacht debut after he was named as replacement loosehead prop.

Head coach Andy Friend said: “There’s no getting away from the fact last week wasn’t good enough, so now it’s up to us all to put in the type of performance we know they’re capable of.

“Training this week has been good and Bundee’s return is a boost as he’ll give us his typical energy that is needed for an interpro.

“Both games in Limerick last season ended with a single score between the two sides, so we know it’ll be a tight game. The team that is most consistent for the full 80 minutes and is clinical with the chances they create will be the team that wins it.”

The derby kicks off at 7.35 p.m. tomorrow (Saturday) in Thomond Park, Limerick.