CONNACHT       v           SOUTH AFRICA,

RWC Friendly - Tuesday 21^st August 2007

Galway Sportsground, 7.30pm (Setanta Sports - Ireland)

Connacht welcome former world champions South Africa to the Sportsground on Tuesday evening. The Africans are one of the favourites for the upcoming tournament beginning in a few weeks in France and the game in Galway is part of their final preparations for the third biggest sporting even in the world.

Popular former Connacht coach Steph Nel, expects an inspired performance from the Irish side. He compared tomorrows fixture to a match between South African Currie Cup side Griquas and the All Blacks in their hometown Kimberley.

This will be the first time ever that South Africa plays Connacht on the occasion of the South Africans 335th tour match since 1891. Connacht, on the other hand, has played matches against southern hemisphere countries like New Zealand, Australia, Argentina, Fiji and Western Samoa, in the past.

With the Ireland World Cup squad in Camp, Connacht's only current Ireland RWC Squad member - Gavin Duffy is disappointingly unavailable for selection (no doubt for the player too given the limited game time he is likely to see in France).

Three players will make their debuts for Connacht in Tuesday's pre-season clash with South Africa in front a capacity crowd at the Sportsground.

Samoan International sevens star Ofisa Treviranus will start on the right-wing, diminutive former Australian U- 19, 21, 7's & Barbarians player Tim Donnelly is at out-half and England international Robbie Morris at tight-head prop for the sell-out clash with the former World Cup champions.

In addition, Mel Deane will play his first match for Connacht since moving to Sale Sharks in 2000 - two others who have returned to Connacht, Johnny O'Connor and Mike McCarthy, will start on the bench.

With injury concerns over a number of players prop Brian McGovern, a member of the extended squad, has been selected on the bench as cover. The nucleus of Connacht's competitive pack is still in place from last season with our own South African, prop Brett Wilkinson who was a revelation in his first season with Connacht lining up to take on his national team. Wilkinson describing the occasion at the weekend said "It's the high point in my career. It is a big challenge and an honour to play against the Springboks. I am very excited."

South Africa coach Jake White will continue to explore his options ahead of the World Cup when the Springboks take on Connacht in a warm-up match tomorrow evening.

Connacht Rugby fans will be disappointed to hear that there will be no Schalk Burger on show at the Sportsground with the iconic flanker being replaced by  Danie Rossouw with Wikus van Heerden also joining captain Bob Skinstad in the back-row.

Free-scoring flying winger Bryan Habana is named only on the bench, but no doubt will make and appearance during the game.

Connacht:

15. Daniel Riordan *; 14. Ofisa Treviranus; 13. Mel Deane *; 12. Adain Wynne; 11. John Hearty *; 10. Tim Donnelly (*Aus); 9. Conor McPhillips *; 1. Brett Wilkinson; 2. Adrian Flavin *; 3. Robbie Morris (**Eng); 4. David Gannon *; 5. Andrew Farley *(Capt); 6. John Muldoon *; 7. Ray Ofisa; 8. Colm Rigney.

Replacements: 16. Joe Merrigan; 17. Brian McGovern; 18. Michael Swift; 19. Mike McCarthy; 20. Johnny O'Connor **; 21. Tom Tierney **; 22. Peter Durcan.

Denotations:  * Ireland A International/ ** Ireland Full International 

South Africa:

15 JP Pietersen; 14 Akona Ndungane; 13 Jaque Fourie; 12 Butch James; 11 Ashwin Willemse; 10 Ruan Pienaar; 9 Ricky Januarie; 8 Bob Skinstad (Capt); 7 Danie Rossouw; 6 Wikus van Heerden; 5 Albert van den Berg; 4 Johann Muller; 3 BJ Botha; 2 Bismarck du Plessis; 1 Gurthro Steenkamp

Replacements: 16 Gary Botha; 17 CJ van der Linde; 18 Bakkies Botha; 19 Jacques Cronjé; 20 André Pretorius; 21 Waylon Murray; 22 Bryan Habana;