Connacht change 6 for Stormers clash
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Connacht Rugby head coach Stuart Lancaster has named his matchday squad for tomorrow’s BKT United Rugby Championship meeting with DHL Stormers in Cape Town (k/o 12.45pm Irish time).
There are six changes from the side that started away to Montpellier last week, with three making welcome return from injuries. Sean Jansen, Dave Heffernan and Harry West all come straight into the starting XV after recovering from layoffs, while the other changes are the inclusion of lock David O’Connor, scrum-half Ben Murphy and centre John Devine.
Cian Prendergast captains the side in the #6 jersey, as part of a powerful looking back row with Jansen and flanker Shamus Hurley-Langton. Darragh Murray partners O’Connor in the second row, and the pack is completed by props Billy Bohan and Sam Illo.
Sean Naughton continues at out-half, while Shayne Bolton shifts to the left wing and, with Chay Mullins and Shane Jennings both unavailable due to injury, West is named in the opposite wing, Cathal Forde starts at inside centre with Devine alongside him, and Sam Gilbert completes the side from full-back.
There’s another welcome return among the replacements, with centre Hugh Gavin wearing the #23 jersey.
Head coach Stuart Lancaster says:
“We’ve had a good week so far in South Africa and spirits are high ahead of two very important games, and to have four players in Jansen, Heffernan, West and Gavin all return from injury is a great boost for us. We know that playing the Stormers in Cape Town means we can expect huge physicality, so we’ll have to match them in that area from the first minute while being clinical when the opportunities arise.”
Connacht Rugby vs DHL Stormers
Saturday 18th April, 12:45 @ DHL Stadium
Number/Name/Caps
15. Sam Gilbert (14)
14. Harry West (9)
13. John Devine (5)
12. Cathal Forde (70)
11. Shayne Bolton (33)
10. Sean Naughton (14)
9. Ben Murphy (32)
1. Billy Bohan (10)
2. Dave Heffernan (231)
3. Sam Illo (45)
4. David O’Connor (20)
5. Darragh Murray (55)
6. Cian Prendergast (100) (C)
7. Shamus Hurley-Langton (62)
8. Sean Jansen (42)
16. Matthew Victory (6)
17. Peter Dooley (62)
18. Jack Aungier (98)
19. Josh Murphy (58)
20. Paul Boyle (133)
21. Colm Reilly (33)
22. Jack Carty (233)
23. Hugh Gavin (15)
