CHALLENGE CUP: Connacht v Olympus Madrid:CONNACHT COACH Michael Bradley will enjoy this two-week respite from Magners League commitments and instead turn his attentions to the newly named Amlin Challenge Cup. He couldn't have wished for a gentler opening in Europe than tonight's clash with the Spanish champions.
Two related statistics will put this match in context: first, Olympus lost their unbeaten domestic record this season to Cetransa El Salvador last Sunday, 8-3.
Second, Connacht supporters might recall the province ran into El Salvador two seasons ago in this tournament, prevailing 135-8 over the two legs.
Bradley has made seven changes in personnel from the side that lost 23-10 to the Dragons last weekend, the most striking of which is to give a competitive debut on the right wing to 18-year-old former schools international Tiernan O’Halloran.
A product of the system at the Connemara All Blacks, he was educated at Cistercian College, Roscrea, and last week scored a try for Galwegians in their AIB League win over Dungannon.
In the absence of John Muldoon, who is named among the replacements, Gavin Duffy will captain the side from fullback.
Niva Ta’auso has recovered from a hand injury and is joined in the three-quarter line by Aidan Wynne, O’Halloran and top try scorer Fionn Carr.
There are two changes in the frontrow, with Brett Wilkinson and Adrian Flavin preferred to Ronan Loughney and Seán Cronin. Andrew Browne switches to the backrow, with Mike McCarthy at number eight.
For Bradley, tonight is about performances, individual and collective, without having to unduly worry about securing a result.
CONNACHT: G Duffy (capt); T O'Halloran, N Ta'auso, A Wynne, F Carr; M Nikora, C O'Loughlin; B Wilkinson, A Flavin, J Hagan; M Swift, B Upton; A Browne, J O'Connor, M McCarthy. Replacements: S Cronin, R Loughney, C Higgins, J Muldoon, D Murphy, F Murphy, I Keatley, T Nathan.
OLYMPUS MADRID: M Mazo; J Cano, M Poggi, J Canosa, B Pardo; J Palumbo, P Feijoo; V Acevedo, C Bohorquez, A Onega Camacho; L Fernandez, J Recuerda; S Guerrero, J Gonzalez, M Acena. Replacements: J Arbelaitz, M Serrano, S Hattori, I Criado, C Arenas, S Souto, M Heredia, M Tudela.
Referee: A Falzone (Italy).
Sportsground, 6.30pm
