Connacht Rugby head coach Stuart Lancaster has named his matchday squad for tomorrow’s BKT United Rugby Championship quarter-final with Glasgow Warriors at Scotstoun Stadium (k/o 7.45pm Irish time).
The recently named Connacht Fans’ Player of the Year Cian Prendergast captains the side, in a back row that features Shamus Hurley-Langton and Paul Boyle who replaces the injured Sean Jansen.
There’s two fitness boosts in the rest of the pack with Dylan Tierney-Martin and Darragh Murray both selected to start. Tierney-Martin is named in a front row alongside props Billy Bohan and Sam Illo, while Murray partners Josh Murphy to complete the pack.
The final change is at outside centre where John Devine replaces the injured Harry West. He plays alongside British & Irish Lion Bundee Aki, while Ben Murphy and Josh Ioane continue at 9 and 10. Completing the side is the unchanged back three of wingers Shayne Bolton and Shane Jennings, and full-back Sam Gilbert.
There’s a further boost on the bench with the return of the fit-again Dave Heffernan. Sean O’Brien is named as the back row replacement, and Jack Carty is unavailable due to personal reasons so Hugh Gavin wears the #22 jersey.
Head coach Stuart Lancaster says:
“This is exactly where we wanted to be at the start of the season, so credit must go to all the players for what they’ve displayed in the last few months to get us to this position. Now we have to go out there and seize the opportunity. Glasgow are a formidable opponent especially away from home, with an array of talented players who are very well coached, but we are excited by the challenge ahead of us.”
Glasgow Warriors v Connacht Rugby
Friday 29th May, 19:45 @ Scotstoun Stadium
Number/Name/Caps
15. Sam Gilbert (18)
14. Shane Jennings (36)
13. John Devine (7)
12. Bundee Aki (165)
11. Shayne Bolton (37)
10. Josh Ioane (31)
9. Ben Murphy (35)
1. Billy Bohan (14)
2. Dylan Tierney-Martin (75)
3. Sam Illo (48)
4. Josh Murphy (61)
5. Darragh Murray (58)
6. Cian Prendergast (104) (C)
7. Shamus Hurley-Langton (66)
8. Paul Boyle (137)
16. Dave Heffernan (232)
17. Peter Dooley (66)
18. Finlay Bealham (231)
19. Joe Joyce (56)
20. Sean O’Brien (29)
21. Matthew Devine (33)
22. Hugh Gavin (17)
23. Seán Naughton (18)
