Rugby

Connacht need a big performance to stop their recent slide

Province come into Challenge Cup clash with Brive after successive losses in the Pro14

Connacht’s Bundee Aki in action for Ireland. He returns for the province tonight having been rested last week. Photograph: Billy Stickland/Inpho

Linley MacKenzie
Sat Dec 9 2017 - 06:00

Brive v Connacht, Stade Amédée-Domenech, Saturday, 9pm (8pm Irish time)

Connacht need to produce a big performance in France this evening if they want to stop their current slide and maintain hopes of a European quarter-final.

Brive are tonight’s opponents, and Connacht are expecting a tough physical battle from the side that beat them at Stade Amedee-Domenech two seasons ago in the Challenge Cup.

Coach Kieran Keane will be hoping the change in competition is just what Connacht need, coming after two successive losses in the Pro14 to both Cardiff and Zebre. Connacht, the only unbeaten team in pool five, currently enjoy a four-point lead over this Aquitaine outfit – thus a win this evening would give them a strong advantage in the return fixture next weekend at the Sportsground.

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And, it would certainly boost the confidence of this side that appears to be struggling to come to terms with new playing structures.

Keane has made four changes to the starting XV, which is notable for the new midfield combination of Pacific pair Bundee Aki, rested last week after international duty, and latest recruit Pita Ahki, while Jack Carty takes over from Steve Crosbie, who is on bench duty with the Eagles who are away to Richmond in the B&I Cup.

Absence

Up front, Keane has handed Academy player Cillian Gallagher a first start. The former Irish Under-20 captain and college basketball player, who normally plays in the secondrow, is named on the blindside, with Eoghan Masterson moving to openside in the absence of the injured Jarrad Butler.

Experienced hooker Tom McCartney, out of action last week, makes the bench this week.

Last weekend Connacht’s lack of clinical finishing and errors proved costly, and forwards coach Jimmy Duffy says Connacht cannot afford to replicate that performance this evening, particularly against a tough French outfit.

“Brive is a team of seasoned pros, who are hugely physical. They maul a lot, are direct, and they can cause problems.”

Connacht will also need to be mindful of conceding penalties – Brive outhalf Thomas Laranjeira produced an individual record for the most penalty goals in a match and he will take advantage of any indiscipline. However, this is a real opportunity for Connacht to extend their pool lead, if they take advantage of some inexperience – five newcomers are included – and a Brive side currently embroiled in a relegation fight in the Top 14.

BRIVE: G Germain; N Megdoud, S Galala, B Petre, G Namy; T Laranjeira, F Cazenave; J Brugnaut, M Tajer, D Bamba; J Snyman, J Uys; P Luafutu, D Waganiborutu, P Hauman (capt).

Replacements: L Martin, SP Chauvac, J Johnston, P Marais, F Sanconnie, D Delaru, A Mafi, M Ugalde.

Connacht: T O'Halloran; C Kelleher, P Ahki, B Aki, M Healy; J Carty, K Marmion; D Buckley, S Delahunt, F Bealham; U Dillane, Q Roux; C Gallagher, E Masterson, J Muldoon (capt).

Replacements: T McCartney, P McCabe, C Carey, J Cannon, J Connolly, James Mitchell, T Farrell, D Leader.

Referee: C Maxwell-Keys (England).

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