MAGNERS LEAGUE Connacht v Ospreys:THE ABSENCE of 16 players on international duty has provided one young Irishman, Conor McInerney, with the chance to establish himself at the Ospreys.
The former St Mary’s College schoolboy, Leinster academy product and underage international has endured a hugely frustrating time with injury since joining the Welsh franchise but the promising secondrow has enjoyed game time of late in the LV=Cup.
The Ospreys give a debut to outhalf Matthew Morgan in a youngish side sprinkled with the hard-nosed experience of former All Blacks Marty Holah and Jerry Collins. Ospreys coach Sean Holley admitted: “I think the last two weeks have been really positive, culminating in the performance against Leicester.
“We know we’ve got some raw talent coming through in the region, although we don’t often get the chance to look at them together, which is something that the LV= Cup has afforded us the opportunity to do.
“We’ve seen a significant change in the Connacht approach under Eric Elwood, they’ve made some good signings and are playing a far more expansive game.
“They are still really difficult to beat out there, but for different reasons now. We know the conditions are going to be difficult in Galway, but we’ve prepared for that, we know it’s going to be a real test of character for these boys.”
Gavin Duffy wins his 100th cap for Connacht tonight in a side that coach Elwood hopes will build on their marvellous victory over Samoa. Ireland Under 20 centre Eoin Griffin was outstanding that night – he was excellent in the national underage side’s successful Six Nations campaign – and retains his place.
Elwood has opted for Miah Nikora at outhalf, with Ian Keatley on the bench. Dermot Murphy starts at hooker in the absence of the injured Adrian Flavin. The province must relish the chance to catch the Ospreys when they are vulnerable but must produce the performance to take advantage.
CONNACHT: G Duffy; T Nathan, E Griffin, K Matthews, F Carr; M Nikora, F Murphy; B Wilkinson, D Murphy, J Hagan; M Swift, B Upton; M McCarthy, J O'Connor, J Muldoon. Replacements: R Loughney, B Faamausili, D Rogers, A Browne, E Taylor, C Willis, I Keatley, D Fanning.
OSPREYS: G Owen; K Phillips, S Parker, A Beck, R Fussell; M Morgan, R Webb; D Jones, M Davies, C Mitchell, C McInerney, I Evans; J Tipuric, M Holah, J Collins (capt). Replacements: S Baldwin, J Rees, C Griffiths, J Goode, J King, J Nutbrown, M Jarvis, B Davies.
Referee: Peter Allan(Scotland).
