Connacht Rugby head coach Stuart Lancaster has named his matchday squad for Sunday’s EPCR Challenge Cup pool opener against Ospreys at Brewery Field (k/o 3:15 pm)
Two-time British and Irish Lion Bundee Aki has been handed the captaincy and is included in a starting 15 that shows nine changes from the side that beat the Sharks last weekend. Partnering Aki in the centre is Sam Gilbert (pictured), who makes his full Connacht debut, having come off the bench against the Sharks. The back three sees Shane Jennings make his first appearance of the season on the wing, with Finn Treacy on the opposite side and the in-form Seán Naughton continuing at full-back. In the forwards, the vastly experienced front row of Denis Buckley, Dave Heffernan and Finlay Bealham start together for the first time in the campaign, while there’s a new-look second row pairing of Joe Joyce and David O’Connor. There’s just the one change in the back row, with Sean O’Brien coming in on the openside flank, while Josh Murphy and Sean Jansen are retained. On the bench, there’s a potential debut for Year 1 Academy centre Sean Walsh. The 19-year-old, who came through the pathway system at Corinthians RFC and Coláiste Éinde, wears the number 22 jersey.
