Rugby

Connacht make 10 changes for trip to Brive

Pat Lam: ‘Securing a home quarter final is a goal we set out at the start of the season’

Connacht Rugby squad training at Kingfisher Sports Club in Galway. Photograph: Morgan Treacy/Inpho

Fri Jan 15 2016 - 13:06

Connacht head coach Pat Lam has made 10 changes to the starting fifteen that faced Scarlets five days ago, for Saturday's European Challenge Cup game against Brive.

USA international outhalf AJ MacGinty has been handed his third start of the season while Ian Porter comes in at scrum half.

Bundee Aki moves to inside centre to allow Academy centre Rory Parata wear the number 13 shirt. Danie Poolman returns to start on the right wing while Tiernan O’Halloran and last week’s try scorer Matt Healy are retained to complete the back three.

Up front, Ronan Loughney, Jason Harris-Wright and Rodney Ah You start in a new front row while Aly Muldowney partners Ultan Dillane in the second row this week.

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Academy flankers Sean O’Brien and James Connolly are named in the back row while captain John Muldoon shifts to Number eight.

Denis Buckley makes a welcome return from injury to take his place on the replacements bench that also sees George Naoupu, Caolin Blade and Peter Robb included this week.

Commenting on the team selection and the upcoming game, Pat Lam said:

“Tomorrow’s game against Brive is a massive one for us in terms of our European ambitions. Securing a home quarter final is a goal we set out at the start of the season. Brive are flying in the Top 14 and have only been beaten once at home this season so we know it’s going to be another tough assignment on the road. But playing in France is always a challenge the boys enjoy and we’re really looking forward to it.

“We’ve made a few changes to the side with the short enough turnaround from last week’s trip to Wales. With guys coming back from injury, competition for places is very high and this is a great opportunity for those lining out tomorrow to put in a performance for the team.”

CONNACHT: Tiernan O'Halloran; Danie Poolman, Rory Parata, Bundee Aki, Matt Healy; AJ MacGinty, Ian Porter; Ronan Loughney, Jason Harris-Wright, Rodney Ah You; Ultan Dillane, Aly Muldowney; Sean O'Brien, James Connolly, John Muldoon (captain).

Replacements: Tom McCartney, Denis Buckley, Finlay Bealham, George Naoupu, Eoghan Masterson, Caolin Blade, Jack Carty, Peter Robb.

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