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Connacht Make Four Changes
By Sea_point
January 1 2009
Connacht & Leinster have both announced their teams for Fridays Magners League clash with both sides keen to come out of the festive season with maximum points. The first action of 2009 sees both sides with several changes, Connacht shuffle the deck primarily due to injuries to full back Gavin Duffy,openside - Ray Ofisa and prop - Brett Wilkinson all who were hugely impressive in Fridays win.

Leinster v Connacht 

Date: Friday 2 January, 2009
Kick-off: 19:30 GMT
Venue: Donnybrook

Coverage: TV - Setanta (2/Ireland); Radio/Online - GBFM

Connacht have made four changes in personnel to the side which Munster for their Magners League derby clash with Leinster at the RDS on Friday (kick-off 7.30pm).

Connacht winger Fionn Carr has recovered from injury to be named in the westerners' team to face Leinster on Friday

Carr comes back into the Connacht team on the right wing while, up front, John Lyne starts at loosehead prop alongside Adrian Flavin at hooker.

In the second row, Michael Swift will start alongside Andrew Farley, who made his 100th Magners League start last time out.

In a number of positional switches, Troy Nathan reverts from wing to full-back, while Mike McCarthy moves from the second row to the back row and team captain John Muldoon switches to the openside berth.

Gavin Duffy, who featured at full-back against Munster, has been ruled out with a knee injury, joining Tim Donnelly (knee), Johnny O'Connor (calf) and Mike Roberts (calf) on the province's injury list.

For Leinster Simon Keogh, a late try scorer against Ulster last week, will start against Connacht on the left wing with Rob Kearney moving to full-back.

Felipe Contepomi, who kicked 11 points in the win over Ulster, will continue his centre partnership with Luke Fitzgerald.

Meanwhile, in the pack, Shane Jennings has recovered from injury to take his place at openside flanker, while Stephen Keogh and Cameron Jowitt also come into the starting line-up, with Devin Toner and Jamie Heaslip making way.

Leinster's final list of replacements, which could include Ireland captain Brian O'Driscolland Ireland's most-capped player Malcolm O'Kelly, will be confirmed closer to kick-off.

Tickets for Friday's interpro tie can be purchased on the Leinster Rugby website and discounted tickets may still be available from the Leinster Rugby Store and Spar Donnybrook.

Tickets will also be on sale from the Ticketmaster box office on Simmonscourt Road and Anglesea Road from 5pm on matchday.

LEINSTER: Rob Kearney; Gordon D'Arcy, Luke Fitzgerald, Felipe Contepomi, Simon Keogh; Isa Nacewa, Chris Whitaker (capt); Cian Healy, John Fogarty, Stan Wright, Trevor Hogan, Cameron Jowitt, Rocky Elsom, Shane Jennings, Stephen Keogh.

Replacements (from): Brian Blaney, Ronan McCormack, Malcolm O'Kelly, Devin Toner, Sean O'Brien, Jamie Heaslip, Chris Keane, Jonathan Sexton, Shane Horgan, Brian O'Driscoll.

CONNACHT : Troy Nathan; Fionn Carr, Niva Ta'auso, Keith Matthews, Liam Bibo; Ian Keatley, Frank Murphy; John Lyne, Adrian Flavin, Robbie Morris, Michael Swift, Andrew Farley, Mike McCarthy, John Muldoon (capt), Colm Rigney.

Replacements: Sean Cronin, Ronan Loughney, Andrew Browne, David Gannon, Kieran Campbell, Andy Dunne, Mel Deane.


 Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland)
Touch judges: Colin Stanley (Ireland), David Wilkinson (Ireland)
Assessor: Tom Aplin (Ireland)
Television match official: Trevor Collins (Ireland)

 

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Connacht Make Four Changes
Posted by: Connacht Rugby Supporters (IP Logged)
Date: 01/01/2009 19:20

What do you think? You can have your say by posting below.

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Re: Connacht Make Four Changes
Posted by: RogueXV (IP Logged)
Date: 01/01/2009 19:52

If Lyne can step it up it is a solid side considering Wilkinson, Ofisa, JOC and Gavin are out. I'm a bit surprised they wouldn't go with Carr at FB and leave Nathan on the wing. Perhaps they want his big boot at the back. I wonder if D'Arcy could be exposed on the wing? Sexton's on the bench to a fit Nacewa, what does that say about the race to backup O'Gara? This could really be a game for Keatley to stake a claim.

They definitely could keep it competitive I just hope they can keep their heads up for the full 80.

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Re: Connacht Make Four Changes
Posted by: Sea_Point (IP Logged)
Date: 02/01/2009 03:31

If they want anything out of tonight then it has to be another 80+ minute performance, Leinster will be looking to stuff us out of sight so we have to really slow down their possession and frustrate them. We need to be cute and minimise any kickable penalties, and make sure our defensive kicking and set pieces are first class also.....

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I see the future, and it's Green again...http://www.planetrugby.com/Images/PlanetRugby/Team/64x64/b_33132.png

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