Connacht need to step up to plate

MAGNERS LEAGUE Ospreys v Connacht:IT'S A measure of the depth of the Ospreys squad that they can accommodate the loss of 11 internationals for this fixture and still afford to leave a player like Jerry Collins on the bench.

The former All Black is joined among the replacements by Wales and Lions scrumhalf Mike Phillips making his way back after a long layoff through injury.

The home side possess plenty of brawn up front in captain Ian Gough, Kiwi flanker Marty Holah and number eight Filo Tiatia while the backline contains promising young outhalf Dan Biggar alongside Scottish international wing and joint top try scorer Nikki Walker and former Welsh Test player Sonny Parker.

Connacht’s series of brilliant performances in the Amlin Challenge Cup needs to filter through to this particular tournament. Gavin Duffy, Keith Matthews and Fionn Carr all turned in impressive displays in one or both in Duffy’s case of the recent A internationals. Frank Murphy has recovered from injury to partner Ian Keatley at outhalf.

Connacht must begin to take advantage of situations like tomorrow when there is a mismatch in terms of the personnel available to the respective coaches. The Ospreys are by no means an easy prospect but they are vulnerable.

Coach Scott Johnson pointed out: “It’s not going to be a walk in the park for us, we know that we have to roll up our sleeves and battle. There isn’t a person in rugby who can say they don’t know the kind of team Connacht is. They are brave, will not go away and they’ll be competitive at all levels.”

His Connacht counterpart Michael Bradley should impress upon his charges the need to return from Wales with something more substantial than a pat on the head.

OSPREYS: G Owen; J Vaughton, S Parker, A Beck, N Walker; D Biggar, J Nutbrown; R Bevington, R Hibbard, C Mitchell; I Gough (capt), I Evans; T Smith, M Holah, F Tiatia. Replacements: E Shervington, C Griffiths, A Lloyd, J Collins, M Phillips, B Davies, T Prydie.

CONNACHT: G Duffy; T Nathan, N Ta'auso, K Mathews, F Carr; I Keatley, F Murphy; B Wilkinson, S Cronin, R Morris; M Swift, B Upton; J Muldoon, R Ofisa, G Naoupu. Replacements: A Flavin, J Hagan, M McCarthy, J O'Connor, C O'Loughlin, A Wynne, L Bibo.

Referee: Neil Patterson(Scotland).

Verdict: Connacht to win.