Connacht keen to start season on positive note

Border Reivers v Connacht, at Netherdale, 7.30pmConnacht coach Michael Bradley has said he wants to see his side hit the ground running tonight prior to a bizarre schedule that has them playing six successive games at home, and in the last five years Connacht have tended to do just that - winning on the opening weekend each time.

By contrast, the Borders have yet to win their first fixture, while the last three head-to-heads have bucked the league's trend in yielding away wins. But, of course, sequences are made to be broken, and the Borders were a much improved outfit last season who, in a telling contrast to Connacht after the IRFU's refusal to allow them private funding, recently became a privately owned club.

Despite that boost, the Borders' pre-season results haven't been particularly eye-catching, losing 36-7 at home to Ulster and 49-14 to Wasps, albeit after introducing a host of their academy players in the second half.

The Scottish outfit have been further boosted by the return of their lively, classy scrumhalf Chris Cusiter, who will captain the side for the first time since sustaining a chest injury while playing for Scotland against Italy in the Six Nations.

Their head coach, Steve Bates, says: "We mustn't underestimate Connacht's quality and pedigree in this competition. We are all looking forward to the new season at this very exciting time for the Borders."

Bates unveils four new signings up front: Craig Hamilton and Stuart Grimes make debuts in the second row, as does Ross Beattie at number eight and Calcutta Cup-winning prop Gavin Kerr at loosehead.

In the back division, Bates has chosen a familiar set-up that proved strong last season, the only difference being Scotland A cap Nick De Luca on the left wing.

Connacht haven't been nearly so active in the transfer market, although Brett Wilkinson, the 22-year-old who joined from the University of Cape Town in South Africa, and 27-year-old hooker Flavin, who joined from London Irish, are included in the front row with Stephen Knoop.

Replacement prop Michael Diffley, a native of Oran in Roscommon, who began his rugby with Creggs RFC, could become the 80th player to be used by Connacht since the competition started five years ago.

The side will be captained by Mark McHugh, who has been selected at outhalf.

Despite defeat in Narbonne, Connacht have clearly sought in the pre-season to improve the league's least potent attack, judging by their haul of 12 tries between that game and the win over Rotherham Titans.

The Statistics

BORDERS: C MacRae; S Danielli, B MacDougall, G Law, N De Luca; G Townsend, C Cusiter (captain); G Kerr, R Ford, B Douglas; C Hamilton, S Grimes; K Brown, S Gray, R Beattie. Replacements: S Scott, E Kalman, O Palepoi, J Dalziel, B McKerchar, A Miller, S Jones.

CONNACHT: M Mostyn; C McPhillips, P Warwick, G Williams, D Yapp; M McHugh (captain), C Keane; B Wilkinson, A Flavin, S Knoop; D Gannon, A Farley; J Muldoon, M Lacey, C Rigney. Replacements: J Fogarty, M Diffley, M Swift, B O'Connor, T Tierney, K Matthews, D Riordan.

Referee: Tim Hayes (WRU).

Previous meetings: (02-03) Borders 27 Connacht 28; (03-04) Connacht 42 Borders 19; Borders 40 Connacht 29; (04-05) Connacht 29 Borders 27; Borders 9 Connacht 18; (05-06) Connacht 15 Borders 17; Borders 9 Connacht 11.

Last season's leading points scorers: Borders - Charlie Hore 121, Calum McRae 81. Connacht - Paul Warwick 93, David Slemen 68, Mark McHugh 57.

Forecast: Borders to win.

Also playing tonight: Glasgow Warriors v Newport Gwent Dragons (7.30).

Tomorrow: Ospreys v Edinburgh (5.30); Ulster v Llanelli Scarlets (7.30).