Connacht ring changes to give Cardiff the Blues..


By Sea_point
November 17 2006

The Connacht team to face Cardiff shows five changes from that which started against Glasgow Warriors last time out. Mark McHugh, John Fogarty and Ray Hogan, all of whom were in the Ireland ‘A’ side which played Australia ‘A’ on Wednesday evening, are named amongst the replacements.

The Connacht side to play Cardiff Blues on Saturday at the Arms Park (kick off 5:30pm) has been announced.

 

The team shows five changes from that which started against Glasgow Warriors last time out. Mark McHugh, John Fogarty and Ray Hogan, all of whom were in the Ireland ‘A’ side which played Australia ‘A’ on Wednesday evening, are named amongst the replacements.

 

Adrian Flavin and Brett Wilkinson come into the front while Paul Warwick switches from centre to out-half. Keith Matthews and John Hearty both come into the side in the centre.

 

Brendan O’Connor comes into the back row at blindside wing-forward with John Muldoon switching to No.8.

 

New signing Ryan Strudwick, having made his first appearance for Connacht in the ‘A’ match against Ulster on Tuesday, is named among the replacements.

 

With current skipper John Fogarty listed on the bench, the Connacht side will be captained for the second time this season by Andrew Farley.

 

Meanwhile Cardiff Blues coach Dai Young named a XV that shows four changes to the team that beat Edinburgh in Scotland a fortnight ago for Friday's clash with Connacht at the Arms Park.

 

At halfback, Wayne Evans comes in at scrum-half for Ed Fairhurst who is with the Canada squad that play against Wales this Friday.

 

Amongst the forwards, Bradley Davies comes in for James Goode, Scott Roberts in for Tafa'ao Filise who is with the Pacific Islands squad, and Duane Goodfield replaces Gareth Williams.

 

Mark Lewis returns to the bench after recovering from injury. He is joined by Rhys Gill and Glamorgan Wanderers scrum-half Gareth Williams.

 

Form:

 

Both sides are mid-table and will be keen to restate their title credentials. The Blues will have been buoyed by their win over Edinburgh at Murrayfield last round and with some excellent home league form behind them could very well leapfrog Connacht, who have only one win and a draw in their last six league games, in the league table.

 

Overall in the series going back to 2002, Connacht have beaten Cardif twice out of seven fixtures, and on both occasions at the Sportsground.

 

29/04/06

Cardiff Blues

30

-

12

Connacht Rugby

Arms Park

08/09/05

Connacht Rugby

13

-

09

Cardiff Blues

Sportsground

22/01/05

Connacht Rugby

8

-

18

Cardiff Blues

Sportsground

24/09/04

Cardiff Blues

31

-

6

Connacht

Arms Park

21/02/04

Connacht Rugby

18

-

21

Cardiff Blues

Dubarry Park

13/09/03

Cardiff Blues

33

-

17

Connacht

Arms Park

06/09/02

Connacht Rugby

23

-

22

Cardiff Rugby

Sportsground

 

Played

Won

Drawn

Lost

For

Against

7

2

0

5

140

225

 

Cardiff Blues:

15. Ben Blair. 14. Mosese Luveitasau, 13. Jamie Robinson, 12. Marc Stcherbina, 11. Chris Czekaj, 10. Nicky Robinson, 9. Wayne Evans, 8. Xavier Rush (capt), 7. Rhys Shellard, 6. Scott Morgan, 5. Deiniol Jones, 4. Bradley Davies, 3. Scott Roberts, 2. Duane Goodfield, 1. John Yapp.

 

Replacements: 16. Rhys Gill, 17. Gareth Williams, 18. James Goode, 19. Mark Lewis, 20. Gareth Williams, 21. Nick Macleod, 22. Tom James.

 

Connacht :

15. Daniel Riordan, 14. Matt Mostyn, 13. John Hearty, 12. Keith Matthews, 11. Darren Yapp. 10. Paul Warwick, 9. Chris Keane. 1. Brett Wilkinson, 2. Adrian Flavin, 3. Brett Sturgess. 4. David Gannon, 5. Andrew Farley (C). 6. Brendan O’Connor, 7. Ray Ofisa, 8. John Muldoon.

 

Replacements: 16. John Fogarty, 17. Ray Hogan, 18. Ryan Strudwick, 19. Colm Rigney, 20. Conor O’Loughlin, 21. Mark McHugh, 22. Conor McPhillips.