Mayo influence on Connacht team going into Lions' den

Connacht Rugby head coach Stuart Lancaster has named his matchday squad for the BKT United Rugby Championship meeting with Fidelity SecureDrive Lions in Johannesburg tomorrow (Saturday, 3 p.m. Irish time).

There's strong Mayo representation in the squad, with Harry West in the starting XV and Fiachna Barrett among the replacements.

Elsewhere, Jack Aungier will become the latest Connacht centurion. The 27-year-old joined Connacht from Leinster in 2020 and now becomes the 43rd player to reach the landmark milestone for the club.

His inclusion is one of 10 changes from the side that started the win over the Stormers last week West is one of the five players to retain his place, along with captain Cian Prendergast, flanker Shamus Hurley-Langton, and backs John Devine and Sam Gilbert.

There’s a new front row of Peter Dooley and Dylan Tierney-Martin joining Aungier, as well as a new second row partnership of Niall Murray and Joe Joyce. The final change in the pack sees Paul Boyle come in at number eight, with Sean Jansen passed fit for inclusion off the bench.

There’s a new look half-back partership, with Colm Reilly at scrum-half paired alongside Jack Carty at out-half, while Cathal Forde’s withdrawal due to injury means Hugh Gavin starts at inside centre alongside Devine.

Shane Jennings has been passed fit after missing last week, so he comes in on the left wing.

Looking forward to the game, Lancaster said: “Having relocated here to Johannesburg, we have quickly turned the page to the Lions and we are under no illusions that tomorrow is another massive challenge. The Lions are the form team in South African rugby right now with five straight wins under their belt, and like ourselves are fighting to secure a playoff spot.

“They’re very well coached with x-factor players across the pitch and play a great brand of attacking and offloading rugby, so we know we have to be ready to meet that challenge from the first minute as their performance against Glasgow was excellent.”

The Connacht team in full is as follows: Sam Gilbert, Harry West, John Devine, Hugh Gavin, Shane Jennings, Jack Carty, Colm Reilly; Peter Dooley, Dylan Tierney-Martin, Jack Aungier, Niall Murray, Joe Joyce, Cian Prendergast, Shamus Hurley-Langton, Paul Boyle.

The replacements are: Matthew Victory, Billy Bohan, Fiachna Barrett, Darragh Murray, Sean Jansen, Matthew Devine, Sean Naughton, Shayne Bolton.