Rugby: Connacht have made just one enforced change ahead of their Magners League clash with the Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium on Sunday (2.30pm), drafting in Adrian Flavin for Seán Cronin.
The latter is on international duty this weekend and his absence means a start for Flavin and a place on the bench for Academy hooker Dermot Murphy.
Other than that, Eric Elwood has kept faith with the side that hammered Glasgow Warriors 37-8 last weekend. That was Connacht’s fourth win on the trot and helped them leapfrog their opponents in the league.
In stark contrast to their visitors, Ospreys are without 16 internationals, while another nine players are on the treatment table.
Director of coaching Scott Johnson knows his side has its work cut out this weekend, if they are to stay ahead of fifth-placed Leinster and remain in the play-off spots.
“Connacht have always been a tough nut to crack, and that’ll definitely be the case this weekend. They don’t get too many distractions from internationals, and they’ve definitely evolved their game this season. They are playing an attacking game which is getting them rewards on the pitch. Just look at their recent results.
“It should be a great game of footy, we’ve been performing well ourselves with the current squad of players coming on well over the last month. I think we’ll need to lift it another level again come Sunday, but it’s going to be a really good test for these youngsters and we’re really looking forward to it.
“It’s a really exciting couple of months for the Ospreys,” he added. “We are trying to build something special here and the kids that most people are seeing for the first time have a big part to play in that, and in our future.
“What we’ve seen from over the last month has been very encouraging. They’ve shown desire, commitment, integrity, diligence and a great work ethic, as well as a desire to do the right thing for the team, which bodes well for the future. It’s very pleasing. I’d hope that the supporters can recognise this, really identify with what these kids are doing and get behind them.
“It’s important that they continue progressing, and this team has got an opportunity over the next two weekends to really cement the Ospreys place in the top four.”
Ospreys: R Fussell; T Prydie, S Parker, A Beck, H Dirksen; D Biggar, R Webb; D Jones, H Bennett, C Griffiths; I Gough, I Evans; T Smith, J Tipuric (capt), J Collins. Replacements: M Davies, R Bevington, C Cross, A Lloyd, J King, T Isaacs, D Flanagan, A Bishop
Connacht: G Duffy; B Tuohy, N Ta'auso, T Nathan, F Carr; I Keatley, F Murphy; B Wilkinson, A Flavin, J Hagan; M Swift, M McCarthy; A Browne, J O'Connor (capt), R Ofisa. Replacements: D Murphy, R Loughney, R Ah You, B Upton, M McComish, C Willis, N Nikora, K Matthews.
