Mayo man named in Connacht front row for Cardiff clash

Connacht Rugby head coach Stuart Lancaster has named his matchday squad for the first away trip of the new season.

The BKT United Rugby Championship game against Cardiff Rugby will be played tomorrow (Saturday) at Cardiff Arms Park, kicking off at 7.45 p.m.

There is one change to the squad from last week's postponed game against Scarlets as Sean O'Brien comes in to the side to start at blindside flanker, with Paul Boyle missing out.

O'Brien joins the back row, with Cian Prendergast captaining at openside flanker and Sean Jansen at number eight.

In the front row, Mayo native Dave Heffernan retains his place as hooker in between Denis Buckley and Jack Aungier at loosehead and tighthead respectively.

The forward line-up is completed by the partnership of Darragh Murray and Joe Joyce in the second row.

Sean Naughton is at full-back, with Chay Mullins and Irish international Shayne Bolton on the wings. Cathal Forde and David Hawkshaw form the centre partnership, and completing the side are scrum-half Ben Murphy and out-half Jack Carty.

Ahead of the game, Lancaster commented: “We have had a productive week of training. The boys are looking sharp, focused and eager to get back out there.

“Mentally we reset and focused on this game once we heard the Scarlets game was postponed.

“My personal experience playing against Cardiff, home or away, it’s never easy. They are well organised and coached, and as we all know play a great brand of rugby, so it should make for a fantastic game on Saturday night.”

The Connacht starting XV in full is as follows: Sean Naughton, Chay Mullins, David Hawkshaw, Cathal Forde, Shayne Bolton, Jack Carty, Ben Murphy; Denis Buckley, Dave Heffernan, Jack Aungier, Darragh Murray, Joe Joyce, Cian Prendergast, Sean O'Brien, Sean Jansen.

On the replacements' bench are: Eoin de Buitléar, Jordan Duggan, Sam Illo, David O’Connor, Shamus Hurley-Langton, Matthew Devine, Hugh Gavin, Finn Treacy.