Connacht ready for the visit of Vodacom Bulls to Galway
Connacht Rugby head coach Stuart Lancaster has named Lions Bundee Aki, Finlay Bealham and Mack Hansen in the starting line-up for the visit of Vodacom Bulls to Dexcom Stadium in Galway this evening (Friday).
The kick-off time for this BKT United Rugby Championship meeting is 7.45 p.m., with live coverage on TG4.
Bealham will play in his usual tighthead prop position alongside hooker Dave Heffernan, the Ballina native, with Peter Dooley on the other side of the front three.
Aki, meanwhile, will play in his usual inside centre position, while Hansen will line out at full-back.
Cian Prendergast again captains the side and moves to openside flanker, with Josh Murphy on the opposite flank and Sean Jansen at number eight. Darragh Murray and David O’Connor make up the second row pairing.
In the backs, scrum-half Caolin Blade and out-half Josh Ioane return, as does Byron Ralston at outside centre to partner Aki. Completing the side are wingers Shayne Bolton and Chay Mullins.
There’s a 5:3 split on the bench, with Connacht natives Matthew Devine, Cathal Forde and Sean Naughton covering the backline.
Missing out due to injury are Denis Buckley (hamstring), Paul Boyle (shoulder) and Shamus Hurley-Langton (shoulder) – with all three to be further evaluated next week – along with longer term absentees Temi Lasisi (knee), Oisín Dowling (knee) and Niall Murray (ankle).
Looking ahead to the fixture, Lancaster said: “The Bulls are a formidable side, with a strong blend of power up front and pace in the back field. They were URC finalists for a reason last year, and we’re expecting a response after their defeat in Ulster last week.
“With the fans behind us, three returning Lions and a much-improved performance, it should make for a great game.”
The Connacht line-up in full is: Mack Hansen, Chay Mullins, Byron Ralson, Bundee Aki, Shayne Bolton, Josh Ioane, Caolin Blade; Peter Dooley, Dave Heffernan, Finlay Bealham, Darragh Murray, David O’Connor, Josh Murphy, Cian Prendergast, Sean Jansen. On the bench are: Dylan Tierney-Martin. Jordan Duggan, Jack Aungier, Joe Joyce, Seán O’Brien, Matthew Devine, Sean Naughton, Cathal Forde.