Connacht look to maintain perfect start..

By Sea_point
September 14 2006

Connacht, having started the current Magners League season with two wins out of two, have named an unchanged side for Friday's Magners League game against Llanelli Scarlets. The coaching team has brought John Hearty (centre) on to the replacements' bench, taking over from the injured Darren Yapp.

Magners League 06-07

 

 

Connacht v Scarlets (Fri) @ Galway Sportsground

Friday, 15 September  - Kick-off: 1830 BST

 

 

Connacht, having started the current Magners League season with two wins out of two, have named an unchanged side for Friday's Magners League game against Llanelli Scarlets. The coaching team has brought John Hearty (centre) on to the replacements' bench, taking over from the injured Darren Yapp.

 

New signing this season from London Irish Adrian Flavin continues in the starting fifteen at Hooker, with Connacht’s current Captain and Ireland “A” international and senior squad call-up John Fogarty providing cover on the bench. They will be looking to in form backrower (local boy) John Muldoon to have another big hitting game as they look to disrupt Llanelli’s flow early on and to provide some powerful ball carrying options going forward.

 

Buoyed by the opening weeks successes Connacht will be hoping for a big crowd turning up on Friday night. Coach Michael Bradley was very complimentary of the home support during last week’s excellent win against the Neath-Swansea Ospreys side which was laden with International players.

 

Michael Bradley (Connacht) - "It was superb last Friday the way the supporters got right behind the side, especially in the second half when the game was hanging in the balance. That backing has to be worth a score or two. Let's hope we can build on the Friday night experience and the fan base will continue to grow in the coming weeks."

 

Scarlets Wales & Lions scrum-half Dwayne Peel drops to the bench and England’s Churchill Cup scrum-half Clive Stuart-Smith starts in his place, while Matthew Watkins moves to centre with Dafydd James on the wing.

 

Ireland international Simon Easterby goes to open-side, with James Bater on as blindside flanker. Stephen Jones continues at fly-half in a Llanelli side which contains considerable strength on the field and bench.

 

Elsewhere, veteran prop Phil John replaces Iestyn Thomas at loose-head, Adam Jones takes over from Lou Reed in the second row, and Nathan Thomas moves across the backrow to replace Alix Popham at number eight.

 

 

PREVIOUS LEAGUE MEETINGS:

 

October 2003 - Connacht 20 Llanelli 25, Dubarry Park

March 2004 - Llanelli 30 Connacht 30, Stradey Park

October 2004 - Llanelli 21 Connacht 29, Stradey Park

February 2005 - Connacht 11 Ospreys 18, Dubarry Park

September 2005 - Llanelli 25 Connacht 17, Racecourse Ground

February 2006 - Connacht 33 Llanelli 19, The Sportsgound

 

In all Scarlets make five changes to side that won narrowly at the Dragons midweek, while there is also a welcome return for Wales winger Mark Jones, who is placed on the bench.

 

Connacht are understandably on a high after seeing off the Ospreys last weekend and are second in the table behind Ulster, the only other unbeaten team after two rounds of matches.

 

They will be hoping to add a second Welsh scalp on Friday night when the Scarlets arrive at the Sportsground. With a series of six home fixtures in a row, Connacht will be hoping to build up a substantial points total as they pursue the dream of Heineken Cup rugby for next season.

 

Scarlets director of rugby Phil Davies said: "We are aware of the challenge we face against Connacht.

 

"They beat the Ospreys last weekend and have won two from two so are obviously in top form.  We have great respect for them. They are the type of side who never give up."

 

 

Connacht: Connacht: M Mostyn, C McPhillips, P Warwick, G Williams, K Matthews, M McHugh, 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, John Hearty, D Riordan.

 

Scarlets: Ceiron Thomas; Dafydd James, Matthew Watkins, Gavin Evans, Darren Daniel; Stephen Jones, Clive Stuart-Smith; Phil John, Matthew Rees, Deacon Manu, Adam Jones, Scott Macleod, James Bater, Simon Easterby (capt), Nathan Thomas.

Replacements: Iestyn Thomas, Ken Owens, Inoke Afeaki, Alix Popham, Dwayne Peel, Mark Jones, Regan King.

 

Referee: Graeme Hannah (Scotland)