By Sea_point
November 16 2006

Michael Bradley has announced his Connacht squad which travels to play Cardiff Blues on Saturday at the Arms Park. Conor McPhillips comes into the squad after some impressive form for Galwegians in recent weeks and is named in place of Gavin Williams.

Cardiff Blues v Connacht

 

Venue: Cardiff Arms Park - Saturday, 18 November
Kick-off: 1730 GMT

 

Match Coverage:
*Live on BBC Radio Wales, Radio Cymru,

TV  - Setanta, S4C & online

Coverage details

 

Michael Bradley has announced his Connacht squad which travels to play Cardiff Blues on Saturday at the Arms Park.

 

The final team to start the match will be announced on the official Connacht Rugby website

www.connachtrugby.ie between 11am and 12 noon on Friday 17th November. (And on here about a minute later... ;-) )

 

The squad shows two changes to that which played Glasgow Warriors on the 3rd November. Conor McPhillips comes into the squad after some impressive form for Galwegians in recent weeks and is named in place of Gavin Williams.

 

New signing former London Irish captain Ryan Strudwick, having made his first appearance for Connacht in the 'A' match against Ulster on Tuesday, could well make his full debut against the Blues on Saturday and is named in the squad in place of Michael Swift.

 

Cardiff Blues meanwhile will be forced to field a weakened team, with Tom Shanklin, Mike Phillips, Martyn Williams, Rob Sidoli, Rhys Thomas and Gethin Jenkins on Wales duty, and Gary Powell is suspended.

 

Rhys Williams, Tom Riley, Andy Powell, Dafydd Hewitt and Robin Sowden-Taylor remain long-term Blues casualties.

 

But they will hope to have number eight Mark Lewis back after he missed the win in Edinburgh with a neck injury.

 

In the backs Wayne Evans comes in for Ed Fairhurt who is with the Canada squad that play against Wales this Friday. Amongst the forwards, Bradley Davies comes in for James Goode, Scott Roberts in for Tafa'ao Filise who is with the Pacific Islands squad and Duane Goodfield replaces Gareth Williams. Mark Lewis returns to the bench after recovering from injury and is joined by Rhys Gill and also Glamorgan Wanderers scrum half Gareth Williams.

 

Cardiff Blues

15. Ben Blair; 14. Mosese Luveitasau; 13. Jamie Robinson; 12. Marc Stcherbina; 11. Chris Czekaj ; 10. Nicky Robinson; 9. Wayne Evans; 8. Xavier Rush (Capt); 7. Rhys Shellard; 6. Scott Morgan; 5. Deiniol Jones; 4. Bradley Davies; 3. Scott Roberts; 2. Duane Goodfield; 1. John Yapp

 

Replacements

16. Rhys Gill; 17. Gareth Williams; 18. James Goode; 19. Mark Lewis; 20. Gareth Williams; 21. Nick Macleod; 22. Tom James.

 

Connacht Squad:

Andrew Farley, Adrian Flavin, John Fogarty, David Gannon, John Hearty, Ray Hogan, Chris Keane, Keith Matthews, Mark McHugh, Conor McPhillips, Matt Mostyn, John Muldoon, Brendan O'Connor, Ray Ofisa, Conor O'Loughlin, Colm Rigney, Daniel Riordan, Ryan Strudwick, Brett Sturgess, Paul Warwick, Brett Wilkinson, Darren Yapp.

 

Players not considered due to injury: Michael Diffley (ankle), Stephen Knoop (back), Ronan Loughney (knee), Joe Merrigan (leg), Tom Tierney (knee).

 

Previous Form

Honours were shared between the sides last season.

 

The Welsh team lost 13-9 in Ireland, but two tries from Australian centre Marc Stcherbina helped them to a 30-12 win at the Arms Park.