Andy Friend

Leinster v Connacht head-to-head: Caelan Doris v Cian Prendergast

Battle of the two young blindsides will be fascinating in the second leg

Three changes to Leinster team to face Connacht in Champions Cup

Jamison Gibson-Park, Andrew Porter and Rónan Kelleher make starting XV

Gordon D’Arcy: Ulster must improve again to claim a massive European scalp

Full-strength Toulouse will travel to Belfast in expectation, not simply hope

Owen Doyle: Unacceptable face of rugby was on full show over the weekend

Gibson-Park should’ve seen red as too many brutal collisions went far beyond legal limits

‘It’s half-done’ - Leinster and Connacht preparing for unusual second leg

Leo Cullen gives no clues over possible return of Andrew Porter or Ronan Kelleher

Irish provinces have all to play for in second legs of Champions Cup last-16

Munster, Leinster and Ulster all playing at home with quarter-final places on the line

Friend and Connacht looking to make most of a great occasion

Fully-loaded Leinster taking no chances as they make the journey west for Sportsground showdown

Gordon D’Arcy: Munster need to be bolder in selection and tactics

Lack of creative attacking patterns ensures Van Graan’s side are too easy to defend against

Connacht have almost full squad to call on for Leinster first leg

Andy Friend: ‘There is a good buzz but at the same time it’s not a giddy buzz’

Andy Friend proud of Connacht’s character after battling win over Benetton

‘We had them under the pump and then we let them off, but we fought back and got the win’

Connacht target win against Benetton to keep hopes of top-eight finish alive

Finlay Bealham and Mack Hansen return to bolster province for crunch match

Friend calls for Connacht response after ‘embarrassing’ defeats

Hansen and Bealham back for province ahead of URC trip to face Benetton

‘I’m a bit flat’ - Connacht find themselves at a low ebb at the worst time

Andy Friend accepts that Connacht must win all of their four remaining URC games

Connacht aim to set the right tone for opening game of series against Leinster

Andy Friend’s side are coming off the back of 56-8 defeat for sold-out Sportsground clash

Leinster and Connacht reveal their teams for URC clash

Ciarán Frawley is back after facial injury in February win against Edinburgh

Connacht’s Butler focuses on URC meeting in ‘bizarre’ Leinster series

Captain keen to bounce back from ‘embarrasing’ defeat to Edinburgh against champions

Mark Sexton continuing to soak up rugby knowledge from family and further afield

‘If you’re not taking stuff off the best coaches in the world then you are going to be in trouble’

Carty and Heffernan return for Connacht’s trip to Edinburgh

Heach coach Andy Friend makes seven changes for fixture pencilled in for victory

Leinster duo Dunne and O’Loughlin to join Exeter Chiefs

Adam Byrne, Dooley and Hawkshaw set to follow Murphy by switching to Connacht

Jack Carty kicks Connacht to first victory in Llanelli since 2004

Win at Parc y Scarlets ends run of four straight defeats for Andy Friend’s team

Ulster enjoy bonus-point win as Robert Baloucoune grabs double against Connacht

Connacht’s hopes hit by two yellow cards as poor run continues for Andy Friend’s side

Could Connacht’s Mack Hansen be Andy Farrell’s back three wildcard?

James Lowe injury leaves one obvious space to fill in an otherwise settled Ireland XV

Connacht confirm signing of Leinster’s Josh Murphy

As reported last week, the former St Michael’s forward will move west next season

Connacht coach Andy Friend labels defeat to Glasgow as ‘unacceptable’

‘We missed a couple of key individuals . . . but it’s for other blokes to step up’

Connacht disappoint as Glasgow run in six tries at the Sportsground

Rufus McLean and Kyle Steyn both go over for two tries in bonus-point win

Connacht vs Glasgow: Tiernan O’Halloran makes 200th Connacht appearance

Eighth placed Connacht welcome Glasgow and former attack coach Nigel Carolan

Mack Hansen not just along for the ride despite call-up he didn’t see coming

The Australian-born Connacht flier is hoping to represent his Irish mother with pride

Wilkins believes next stage for Connacht is to impose themselves

Senior coach believes change of mindset can help close out tight games in future

Irish rugby gets huge boost as restrictions lift but clouds build over European game

Legal action threatened by French clubs over decision to award two walkovers in final round of pool games

Connacht looking to add to historic Champions Cup progress with win in Paris

Toulouse’s Covid forfeit against Cardiff puts Andy Friend’s side into last 16 ahead of Stade game

Owen Doyle: Champions Cup format needs a rethink

Montpellier’s collapse a sign of how quickly teams can lose interest in redesigned pools

‘It doesn’t break us, it makes us stronger’- Connacht punched in guts by Tigers

Andy Friend’s side let 18-point lead slip away but can still reach Champions Cup last-16

Bumper weekend leaves all four provinces on brink of knockouts

Last-16 format leaves potential for all four Irish sides to qualify for the first time ever

Champions Cup: After festive famine, January feast begins this weekend

Connacht hope to make history, Leinster seek vengeance, Ulster hit hard by injuries

Bundee Aki: ‘I don’t know if I’d get the same treatment somewhere else’

A talisman on the pitch, Connacht’s first Lion in 39 years is adored by the young fans

Connacht sense a big opportunity to tame the Tigers

High-flying Leicester make their first visit to the formidable Sportsground for key clash

Mack Hansen’s European debut with Connacht will have to wait

Exciting winger suffers calf injury in training but could return against Stade Francais

Gerry Thornley: Daring Connacht picking up the points to match their ambition

Andy Friend’s side are continually on the upgrade as stodgy Munster fail to inspire

Bundee Aki’s try sees Connacht edge tempestuous clash with Munster

Both sides have players sent to the bin as Andy Friend’s hosts show resilience to win

All eyes on the Sportsground as Connacht look to dent Munster’s strong record

Alex Kendellen to make first Munster start in exciting young backrow

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