Connacht seek to improve on consistency and focus as they head to Murrayfield this evening.
CONNACHT
Starting XV: 15 Robbie Henshaw, 14 Fionn Carr, 13 Eoin Griffin, 12 Dave McSharry, 11 Matt Healy, 10 Dan Parks, 9 Kieran Marmion
1 Ronan Loughney, 2 Sean Henry, 3 Nathan White, 4 Mick Kearney, 5 Craig Clarke (c), 6 Aly Muldowney, 7 Jake Heenan, 8 Eoin McKeon
Replacements: 16 Jason Harris-Wright, 17 Denis Buckley, 18 Rodney Ah You, 19 Michael Swift 20 John Muldoon, 21 Frank Murphy, 22 Craig Ronaldson, 23 Gavin Duffy
Unavailable/Injured: Mata Fifita, Willie Faloon, Miah Nikora, Danie Poolman, Kyle Tonetti, and Brett Wilkinson
Starting XV: 15 Robbie Henshaw, 14 Fionn Carr, 13 Eoin Griffin, 12 Dave McSharry, 11 Matt Healy, 10 Dan Parks, 9 Kieran Marmion
1 Ronan Loughney, 2 Sean Henry, 3 Nathan White, 4 Mick Kearney, 5 Craig Clarke (c), 6 Aly Muldowney, 7 Jake Heenan, 8 Eoin McKeon
Replacements: 16 Jason Harris-Wright, 17 Denis Buckley, 18 Rodney Ah You, 19 Michael Swift 20 John Muldoon, 21 Frank Murphy, 22 Craig Ronaldson, 23 Gavin Duffy
Unavailable/Injured: Mata Fifita, Willie Faloon, Miah Nikora, Danie Poolman, Kyle Tonetti, and Brett Wilkinson
Edinburgh
Starting XV: 15 Greig Tonks, 14 Dougie Fife, 13 Nick De Luca, 12 Ben Atiga, 11 Jack Cuthbert, 10 Harry Leonard, 9 Greig Laidlaw (c)
1 Alasdair Dickinson, 2 Aleki Lutui, 3 WP Nel, 4 Ollie Atkins, 5 Izak van der Westhuizen, 6 Cornell Du Preez, 7 Ross Rennie, 8 David Denton
Replacements: 16 James Hilterbrand, 17 Wicus Blaauw, 18 Geoff Cross, 19 Sean Cox, 20 Roddy Grant, 21 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, 22 Sam Beard, 23 Tom Brown
Starting XV: 15 Greig Tonks, 14 Dougie Fife, 13 Nick De Luca, 12 Ben Atiga, 11 Jack Cuthbert, 10 Harry Leonard, 9 Greig Laidlaw (c)
1 Alasdair Dickinson, 2 Aleki Lutui, 3 WP Nel, 4 Ollie Atkins, 5 Izak van der Westhuizen, 6 Cornell Du Preez, 7 Ross Rennie, 8 David Denton
Replacements: 16 James Hilterbrand, 17 Wicus Blaauw, 18 Geoff Cross, 19 Sean Cox, 20 Roddy Grant, 21 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, 22 Sam Beard, 23 Tom Brown
Venue: Murrayfield, Edinburgh, Scotland
Date: Friday, 29th November 2013
Kick-off: 19:45
TV Broadcasts: No TV or Radio: Rabo Matchday Live
Referee: Leighton Hodges (WRU, 32nd competition game)
MATCH DISCUSSION THREAD ON THE FORUM
Date: Friday, 29th November 2013
Kick-off: 19:45
TV Broadcasts: No TV or Radio: Rabo Matchday Live
Referee: Leighton Hodges (WRU, 32nd competition game)
MATCH DISCUSSION THREAD ON THE FORUM
Connacht have made some changes to the backline which started against Scarlets last Saturday. At full-back returning Irish international Robbie Henshaw forces Gavin Duffy to the bench, as Fionn Carr replaces Daragh Leader on the wing. With Matt Healy retaining his spot on the opposite side, this Connacht back-three is certainly an exciting one, with two jinking runners and a powerful straight-line runner.
In the centre the partnership of Griffin and McSharry is recalled for their second start together this season. The outhalves sees the familiar pairing of Marmion and Parks re-introduced after last week's start for Ronaldson.
Up front an injury to Brett Wilkinson has allowed Ronan Loughney to stake a claim at loosehead and Denis Buckley, who has been absent recently from match squads, has made his way back to the bench. Michael Swift is moved to the substitutes bench this week as Mick Kearney, previously used mainly as a blindside flanker, takes his spot alongside captain Craig Clarke. Aly Muldowney must have impressed the coaching staff last week as he is used again at blindside, despite both Muldoon and Browne being available for selection this week. Eoin McKeon has recovered fully and gains a starting spot at Number 8, with Heenan completing the loose forward's lineup.
On the bench there is plenty of experience. Muldoon has returned and we would expect that he will come on for Muldowney or McKeon at some point during the match, hopefully bringing his usual work-rate and a some sorely missing belief. Swift is also on the bench along with Duffy, both of whom could be used to inject some power towards the latter stages of the game. Murphy is again preferred over O'Donohue as backup to Marmion and Ronaldson covers for Parks. Overall the reduced injury list is allowing Connacht a much stronger bench than recently and hopefully this will be used to their benefit tonight.
For Edinburgh Laidlaw and De Luca are the only changes to the back-line that was thumped by Ulster 41-17 last week. Most of Ulster's progress in the first half were down to Darren Cave managing to take advantage of the space he was offered and De Luca and Laidlaw, both returning from Scottish duty, will look to up the line speed of the Edinburgh backs. With Gilroy picking up his second try from an intercept Edinburgh will also have focused on tighter control of the ball.
Edinburgh's pack is boosted by the return of Alasdai Dikinson, who will replace Blaauw, and David Denton, replacing Leonardi, from the international break. They are without the services of Ross Ford and Grant Gilchrist however, as they both picked up injuries against Australia. The combination of Rennie Denton and Du Preez in the back-row will be another stern test for the Connacht lads, and it would make one wonder if a more traditional and experienced blindside might have been a better choice to start with.
Connacht recent rut is drawing quite a lot of comparison to the (in)famous 14 match streak that the team endured under Eric Elwood two seasons ago. The team were producing close matches but failed to go on and win matches. Little seems to have been learned from that experience though and there is still a lack of composure and concentration at times on the pitch. It is those breaks in concentration that has put them in this uneviable position. Tonight Connacht need to cut out mistakes and to do that they need 80 minutes of concentration.
