Connacht look vulnerable for trip to Bayonne

European Challenge Cup, Pool Two

Bayonne v Connacht, Stade Jean-Dauger, Saturday, 7.45pm

The extent to how the decision of the new European order to ditch qualification for the European Champions Cup for the winners of the Challenge Cup has devalued the secondary competition has again been exposed by the way virtually every contender has prioritised domestic leagues.

Even Connacht are no different, with the Pro12 their only route into the primary European competition, Pat Lam has accordingly put impending league games first, beginning with next Friday’s trek to the RDS and a meeting with Leinster.

Hence, despite only trailing the Exeter Chiefs by one point in this pool, the Connacht coach has entirely changed his starting XV for this evening’s game in the Basque country, to give full debuts to four players.

Academy graduate Caolin Blade will make his first senior start at scrumhalf while 22-year-old Galway centre Conor Finn, 21-year-old backrower from Naas James Connolly and Athlone number eight Danny Qualter all make their first starts for the province.

Focal point

Named on the bench, Academy prop Saba Meunargia could also make his Connacht debut. The 20-year-old Georgian-born prop attended Marist College and has represented Ireland at under-18 (Club and Schools) and under-19 level. Last season the Buccaneers club man was called into the Ireland under-20’s squad.

Miah Nikora will captain the side with Michael Swift – Connacht's most capped player – returning to provide an experienced focal point to the pack.

“With an extremely busy period ahead and a number of guys injured or unavailable to us, there are a lot of players getting an opportunity to wear the Connacht jersey this weekend,” Lam said. “It’s an exciting time for them and this week has been all about ensuring that they have clarity in their role and the game plan to execute our Connacht systems with confidence. I look forward to seeing how they perform in a pressurised environment.”

Bayonne currently sit bottom of Pool Two and although they rolled over in Galway last week, Lam knows they will provide a much sterner test on home soil. This game presents a very different task to the one at the Sportsground last week.

No less than Connacht, or any other French side in this denuded competition, Bayonne’s interest in the Challenge Cup is at best lukewarm. Yet Bayonne always perform better in front of their own fans at the Stade Jean-Dauger, and what’s more the game will be televised live on French terrestrial television as well as beIN Sport.

It’s hard to gauge the relative strengths of the two selections but as well as having home advantage, as the more settled side Bayonne may just have a tad more cohesiveness.

BAYONNE: J Elissalde; S Vaka, L Foketi, M Ugalde, P Sayerse; C Otazo, C Loustalot (capt); JC Van Rensburg, D Roumieu, F Lapeyrade, P Ian Taele, L Fa'aoso, B Chouzenoux, C Ancely, T Visensang. Replacements: S Labouyrie, A Iguiniz, G Muller, M Chisholm, B Duhalde, G Rouet, G Lovobalavu, J Monribot.

CONNACHT: D Leader; N Adeolokun, C Finn, C Ronaldson, F Carr; M Nikora (capt), C Blade; R Loughney, D Heffernan, F Bealham, M Swift, A Muldowney, J Connolly, W Faloon, D Qualter. Replacements: S Delahunt, D Buckley, S Meunergia, G Naoupu, E McKeon, K Marmion, D McSharry, M Healy.
Referee: Ian Davies (Wales).
Previous meetings: (2010-11) Connacht 16 Bayonne 13; Bayonne 21, Connacht 35. (2014-15) Connacht 42, Bayonne 18. Results so far: Bayonne – Won 30-24 v Exeter (h); Lost 13-25 v La Rochelle; Lost 18-42 v Connacht (a). Connacht – Won 48-12 v La Rochelle (h); Lost 13-33 v Exeter (a); Won 42-18 v Bayonne (h). Leading points scorers: Bayonne – Christophe Loustalot 17. Connacht – Craig Ronaldson 21. Leading try scorers: Bayonne – Pierre Sayerse 2. Connacht – Danie Poolman 3. Betting : 4/9 Bayonne, 20/1 Draw, 13/8 Connacht. Handicap odds (Connacht +5pts) 10/11 Bayonne, 22/1 Draw, 10/11 Connacht. Forecast: Bayonne to win.