Connacht Head Coach Pat Lam has named his 23 man squad for tomorrow’s Champions Cup game against Italian side Zebre at the Showgrounds.
There are five changes from the side that played in last weekend’s Pro12 game with two in the backs and three in the forwards.
With 22 players out injured for the Westerners it’s amazing to think they can even have a team lined out at all.
Craig Ronaldson returns from injury to start at inside centre while John Cooney plays at fly half with Jack Carty and Marnitz Boshoff both out. Kieran Marmion also returns to scrum half
Lewis Stevenson makes his first start of the year in the second row position. Captain John Muldoon who missed the weekend’s game returns to the back row alongside Eoin McKeon at openside flanker.
With two games left Connacht will most definitely be looking for a bonus point victory which will set up a huge game next weekend away to Toulouse where the winner of that game looks likely to be heading into the last eight.
Before next weekend all focus will be on tomorrows kick off at 1pm. With the game being at home this would be one where Connacht fans would feel confident of getting the four tries to go along with the win to claim the five points but a staggering amount injuries especially to some key players will certainly have an effect.
Here is the injury list of players:
Quinn Roux, Bundee Aki, Darragh Leader, Ronan Loughney, Conor Carey, Ivan Soroka, Conan O’Donnell, Ultan Dillane, Eoghan Masterson , Ben Marshall, Andrew Browne, Nepia Fox-Matamua, Jake Heenan, Jack Carty, Marnitz Boshoff, Shane O’Leary, Peter Robb, Stacey Ili, Eoin Griffin, Cian Kelleher, Cormac Brennan
(Connacht Squad)
15. Tiernan O’Halloran
14. Niyi Adeolokun
13. Rory Parata
12. Craig Ronaldson
11. Matt Healy
10. John Cooney
9. Kieran Marmion
1. Denis Buckley
2. Tom McCartney
3. Finlay Bealham
4. Lewis Stevenson
5. James Cannon
6. Sean O’Brien
7. Eoin McKeon
8. John Muldoon (captain)
Replacements:
16. Dave Heffernan
17. JP Cooney
18. John Andress
19. James Connolly
20. Naulia Dawai
21. Caolin Blade
22. Tom Farrell
23. Danie Poolman
