Samoa visit Galway next Tuesday evening for a clash with Connacht at the Sportsground. Kick off is 7:05.
The game will be live on RTE 2 and online at http://www.rte.ie/sport/livestreaming/rugby.html
While the IRFU scramble to apologies for the ticketing nightmare surrounding the over priced November internationals, provincial fans seem to be getting better value for money this month with Samoa heading west and Australia in Munster.
The national press reported on Tuesday morning that Niva Ta’auso and Ray Ofisa are set to miss the rest of 2010 with injuries sustained in the Treviso defeat last Saturday. In fact, it turns out that Ofisa was kept in the Italian hospital for the weekend before returning home.
Tuesday afternoon’s official statement to the media (including local media) from the branch repeated as much, noting that Ta’auso is out until at least January with a fractured eye socket and a fractured nose while Ofisa has a fractured cheek bone.
Both will be significant losses but Ta’auso’s absence might open the door for Corinthians centre Eoin Griffin who performed superbly for the Irish under 20s last season and is performing well for his club so far this seasons.
Samoa last visited Connacht in 1988 when the home side dug out a fine home 25-18 home win over a side (then under the guise of Western Samoa) that would go on to make a huge impact in the 1991 World Cup beating Wales at Cardiff Arms Park to reach the last eight.
Tom Clancy captained the side, Jim Stables and Noel Mannion were among the star names while Corinthians Fintan O’Flynn started on one wing and Enda Guerin started on the other. Sean O’Beirne kicked seven penalties, Dave Henshaw and John O’Driscoll had one try each
From Connacht Rugby
The Connacht side to face Samoa in the Sportsground next Tuesday has been named.
With a number of senior players being rested following a tough start to the Magners League and Amlin Challenge Cup, Head Coach Eric Elwood has given a number of younger players the opportunity to compete for places.
Connacht Academy back row graduates Eoin McKeon and Shane Conneely are set to make their competitive debuts, along with South African prop Dylan Rogers and Blackrock College and Ireland U21 winger Shane Monahan in a side that sees a mix of youth and experience.
Brian Touhy and Conor O’Loughlin will make their first appearances of the 2010/2011 campaign and a new and exciting half back pairing of Cillian Willis and Miah Nikora will be joined by Ferbane native Aidan Wynne and Galway man Eoin Griffin in the back line.
The squad has a total of eight graduates – Ronan Loughney, Andrew Browne, Eoin McKeon, Aidan Wynne, Eoin Griffin, Dermot Murphy, Shane Conneely and Conor O’Loughlin - from the Connacht Academy which has prospered in recent years under the guidance of Academy Director and Ireland U20 Assistant Coach Nigel Carolan.
Connacht: Troy Nathan; Shane Monahan, Eoin Griffin, Aidan Wynne, Brian Touhy; Miah Nokora, Cillian Willis; Ronan Loughney, Adrian Flavin, Barry Fa’amausili; Andrew Browne, Bernie Upton; Eoin McKeon, Mike McComish, Ezra Taylor
Replacements: Dermot Murphy, Rob Sweeney, Dylan Rogers, Michael McCarthy, Shane Conneely, Conor O’Loughlin, Darragh Fanning
Samoa: TBC