Arms Park surface synthetic but Cardiff challenge all too real for Connacht

After the perfect start last weekend with a home win against Zebre, Pat Lam knows Cardiff truck up much bigger and meaner on home turf, or as it is tonight, plastic.

Lam has made two changes from last week and they make the team stronger. Gavin Duffy returns at fullback, while the development of Robbie Henshaw continues apace as he moves to outside centre.

Tiernan O’Halloran, who came on from the bench last Saturday, starts on the right wing.

The pack remains unchanged, with Michael Swift captaining the side on what will be the team’s first outing on Cardiff’s newly installed artificial pitch. It’s also the first league match to take place on the synthetic surface.

Cardiff narrowly lost to a strong Glasgow team last week but they bring in British and Irish Lion Alex Cuthbert to the wing as well as Welsh forward Andries Pretorious.

Talismanic
The talismanic blindside, who made his international debut on tour to Japan, is named alongside Josh Navidi and Robin Copeland.

It is only French referee Claudio Blessano’s fourth competitive game, which could impact on the match.

Cardiff though are looking strong throughout the team and earning a losing bonus point to Glasgow illustrates just that. Glasgow are on most people’s list to be there at the end of the season.

Combined with the unfamiliar surface it will be a hard shift for Lam and his team. Connacht has beaten Cardiff in just three of their twenty previous meetings in the tournament. But one of those was in this equivalent fixture at the Arms Park in February.
CARDIFF BLUES: T Wiliams: A Cuthbert, O Williams, D Hewitt, H Robinson; R Pratchell, L Williams; T Filise, M Rees (capt), S Andrews, B Davies, F Paulo, A Pretorious, J Navidi, R Copeland. Replacements: K Dacey, S Hobbs, B Bourrust, L Reed, M Cook, L Jones, G Davies, G Evans.
CONNACHT: G Duffy; T O'Halloran, R Henshaw, E Griffin, M Healy; D Parks, K Marmion; B Wilkinson, J Harris_Wright, N White, M Swift, A Browne, J Muldoon, W Faloon, G Naoupu. Replacements: S Henry, R Ah You, R Loughney, A Muldowney, J Heenan, P O'Donohue, C Ronaldson, D Poolman.
Referee: Claudio Blessano (FIR)
Verdict: Home win.