Connacht to launch final assault on Warriors...
C'mon Connacht
By Sea_point
May 25 2006
Connacht have made two changes to their side for the season finale with Glasgow Warriors at the Sportsground on Friday (6:30), Ireland A Squad member David Gannon returns to the starting line up. Conor McPhillips and Gannon, who returns from injury, are the only changes to the starting line up.
Connacht v Glasgow Warriors
Galway Sportsground - Friday 26th May 2006, 18:30
Connacht have made two changes to their side for the season finale with Glasgow Warriors at the Sportsground on Friday (6:30), with Ireland A Squad member David Gannon returns to the starting line up on Friday. Conor McPhillips and Gannon, who returns from injury, are the only changes to the starting line up that lost to the Ospreys last time out.
All six of Connacht’s Ireland A touring squad members will be on show and they will be looking for the win that would provide the perfect send off for their trip to USA and Canada. Michael Bradley will coach the Ireland A side that includes, Chris Keane, John Hearty, Ray Hogan, John Fogarty, David Gannon and John Muldoon.
Glasgow are chasing Borders for the second of Scotland’s Heineken Cup places and must win to stay in contention. Connacht have lost their last three matches, whilst they have lost their last two games at Galway Sportsground to Edinburgh Gunners and the Ospreys. Glasgow Warriors must win if they are to keep up their challenge for an automatic Heineken Cup spot for next season. The Warriors win over Llanelli Scarlets at Firhill two weeks ago put an end to an unwanted six match losing streak in the Celtic League. The two sides have met on seven previous occasions in the Celtic League with Connacht victorious just twice: at Hughenden in 2003 and at Galway last season.
Glasgow Head coach Sean Lineen has made six changes to the starting line-up from the team that defeated Llanelli Scarlets at Firhill a fortnight ago. Graeme Morrison, Sam Pinder, Graydon Staniforth and Stuart Corsar all come into the starting line-up in place of Andy Henderson, birthday boy Dan Parks, Colin Shaw and Ben Prescott, while Colin Gregor moves from scrum half to stand off and Kevin Tkachuk swaps from loose-head to tight-head prop.
"Tomorrow’s game is all about how we perform but I’d also wish the Borders good luck for their match," said Lineen.
"We’re still looking to restore pride in the Glasgow jersey and it would be good to sign off the season with a win against an Irish side who have shown lots of commitment throughout the season."
As a footnote it is rumoured that Eoghan Hickey, Leinster’s young fly-half, is on his way to Connacht for next season.
Connacht: 15 Matt Mostyn, 14 Darren Yapp, 13 John Hearty, 12 Gav Williams, 11 Conor McPhillips, 10 Mark McHugh, 9 Chris Keane; 1 Ray Hogan, 2 John Fogarty, 3 Stephen Knoop, 4 David Gannon, 5 Andy Farley (Capt.), 6 John Muldoon, 7 Matt Lacey, 8 Colm Rigney.
Replacements: 16 J Merrigan, 17 AJ Clarke, 18 D McGowan, 19 M Swift, 20 T Tierney, 21 D Slemen, 22 T Robinson.
Glasgow Warriors: 15 Graydon Staniforth, 14 Spencer Davey, 13 Hefin O’Hare, 12 Graeme Morrison, 11 Rory Lamont, 10 Colin Gregor, 9 Sam Pinder, 8 John Beattie, 7 Donnie Macfadyen (Capt.), 6 Jon Petrie, 5 Dan Turner, 4 James Eddie, 3 Kevin Tkachuk, 2 Fergus Thomson, 1 Stuart Corsar.
Replacements: 16 Eric Milligan, 17 Scott Lawson, 18 Craig Hamilton, 19 John Barclay, 20 Andrew Wilson, 21 Dan Parks, 22 Iain Kennedy.
Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU). Touch Judges: Peter Fitzgibbon (IRFU), Andrew Baird (IRFU).
HEAD TO HEAD - RECENT MEETINGS
Saturday 1 December 2001 (Celtic League Quarter-final) at Sportsground Connacht 29: Ted Robinson(T) Wayne Munn(T) Eric Elwood(2C/D/4P) Glasgow Warriors 34: James McLaren(T) Tommy Hayes(T/4C/2P) Jason White(T) Gareth Flockhart(T)
Friday 25 October 2002 (Celtic League) at Hughenden Glasgow Warriors 29: Stuart Moffat(T) Calvin Howarth(T/C/4P) Donnie Macfadyen(T) Connacht 7: Mark McHugh(C) Dan McFarland(T)
Friday 26 September 2003 (Celtic League) at Hughenden Glasgow Warriors 19: Joe Beardshaw(T) Lee Harrison(T) Dan Parks(2C) Graeme Morrison(T) Connacht 30: Michael Walls(T) Matt Mostyn(T) Conor McPhillips(T) Mark McHugh(3C/3P)
Saturday 28 February 2004 (Celtic League) at Sportsground Connacht 28: Conor McPhillips(2T) Mark McHugh(T) Eric Elwood(2C/3P) Glasgow Warriors 28: Sean Lamont(T) Glenn Metcalfe(T) Alan Bulloch(T) Calvin Howarth(3P) Dan Parks(2C)
Saturday 4 September 2004 (Celtic League) at Sportsground Connacht 31: Matt Lacey(T) Paul Warwick(T/3C/P) Matt Mostyn(T) John Muldoon(T) Eric Elwood(C) Glasgow Warriors 15: Dan Parks(T/C/P) Kenny Logan(T)
Friday 17 December 2004 (Celtic League) at Hughenden Glasgow Warriors 35: Sean Lamont(2T) Kevin Tkachuk(T) Donnie Macfadyen(T) Calvin Howarth(2C/3P) Dan Parks(C) Connacht 0:
Friday 4 November 2005 (Celtic League) at Hughenden Glasgow Warriors 30: Graydon Staniforth(T) Dan Turner(T) Colin Gregor(T/3C/3P) Connacht 15: Andrew Farley(T) Conor McPhillips(T) Paul Warwick(C/P)