CONNACHT RUGBY v EDINBURGH RUGBY
At The Sportsground, Galway, 3pm.
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU, 89th competition game)Assistant: Chris Busby, Paul Haycock (both IRFU)
TMO: Sean Brickell (WRU)
Team News
Andy Friend’s side are aiming for their fifth straight win in the Championship, which would be their longest unbeaten run in the competition since the 2015/16 season.
There are three changes in the pack with Peter Dooley, Oisín Dowling and Jarrad Butler coming in, while there are starts for Diarmuid Kilgallen and Oran McNulty in the backs.
Dylan Tierney-Martin and Jack Aungier are alongside Dooley in the front row, while Dowling has Niall Murray for company in the second row. The pack is completed by flankers Cian Prendergast and Conor Oliver.
Caolin Blade again captains the side from scrum-half with David Hawkshaw alongside him, while for the fourth straight game the centre pairing is Cathal Forde and Tom Farrell. John Porch completes the side on the left wing.
Speaking following the team announcement, Director of Rugby Andy Friend said:
“Tomorrow is the start of a massive block of games for us. We’re where we want at this stage of the season, with our destiny in our own hands knowing if we keep winning games then we reach playoff rugby. We’ve won 4 in a row in the URC so there’s a real sense of momentum within the group, and with a massive crowd behind us at The Sportsground we’ll do everything to keep that run going.”
CONNACHT RUGBY MATCHDAY 23 VS EDINBURGH RUGBY
Saturday 25th March, 15:00 @ The Sportsground
Number/Name/Caps
15. Oran McNulty (13)
14. Diarmuid Kilgallen (14)
13. Tom Farrell (93)
12. Cathal Forde (10)
11. John Porch (75)
10. David Hawkshaw (12)
9. Caolin Blade (164)
1. Peter Dooley (14)
2. Dylan Tierney-Martin (18)
3. Jack Aungier (46)
4. Oisín Dowling (38)
5. Niall Murray (50)
6. Cian Prendergast (41)
7. Conor Oliver (57)
8. Jarrad Butler (110)
16. Dave Heffernan (178)
17. Jordan Duggan (36)
18. Dominic Robertson-McCoy (77)
19. Darragh Murray (7)
20. Shamus Hurley-Langton (14)
21. Kieran Marmion (224)
22. Tom Daly (73)
23. Shane Jennings (1)
Connacht Rugby Injury update –
Eoin de Buitléir, Dave Heffernan & Diarmuid Kilgallen available.
Jack Carty 50/50 to play
Denis Buckley – One week
Josh Murphy – One week
Byron Ralston – Three weeks
Finlay Bealham – Three weeks
Conor Fitzgerald – Season
Oisin McCormack – Season— Joe Naughton (@JoeNaConnacht) March 21, 2023
HEAD-TO-HEAD – RECENT URC MEETINGS
|
Date |
Venue |
C |
E |
Connacht scorers |
Edinburgh scorers |
|
Fri 23 Mar 18 |
Sportsground |
22 |
29 |
Tiernan O’Halloran(T) Tom Farrell(T) Jack Carty(2C/P) Finlay Bealham(T) |
Duncan Weir(T/C/3P) Duhan van der Merwe(T) Jaco van der Walt(P) Dougie Fife(T) |
|
Fri 14 Sep 18 |
BT Murrayfield |
10 |
17 |
Jack Carty(C/P) Niyi Adeolokun(T) |
Pierre Schoeman(T) Duhan van der Merwe(T) Jaco van der Walt(2C/P) |
|
Fri 21 Feb 20 |
BT Murrayfield |
14 |
41 |
Tiernan O’Halloran(2T) Jack Carty(2C) |
Pierre Schoeman(T) Duhan van der Merwe(T) Simon Berghan(T) Simon Hickey(3C/2P) Penalty Try(2T) |
|
Sun 25 Oct 20 |
BT Murrayfield |
37 |
26 |
Tom Daly(3C/P) Caolin Blade(T) Sammy Arnold(T) Shane Delahunt(T) Conor Fitzgerald(P) Alex Wootton(2T) |
Mike Willemse(2T) Jaco van der Walt(3C) Nic Groom(T) Andrew Davidson(T) |
|
Sat 13 Mar 21 |
Sportsground |
14 |
15 |
Jack Carty(2C) Shane Delahunt(T) Sean O’Brien(T) |
Nathan Chamberlain(T/C/P) Magnus Bradbury(T) |
|
Fri 4 Mar 22 |
DAM Health Stadium |
8 |
56 |
Peter Sullivan(T) Jack Carty(P) |
Glen Young(T) Ramiro Moyano Joya(T) Dave Cherry(T) Ben Vellacott(T) Emiliano Boffelli(T/8C) Blair Kinghorn(T) Henry Immelman(2T) |
Overall URC head-to-head record:
Played 35, Connacht won 14, Edinburgh won 19 with 2 matches drawn.
Did you know?
- 1) Connacht Rugby have won their last four BKT United Rugby Championship fixtures since their defeat to Leinster in Dublin on New Year’s Day.
- 2) The Irishmen have not won five in succession in the Championship since they were Champions in 2015/16.
- 3) Connacht have lost their last three matches against Scottish opponents.
- 4) Edinburgh Rugby’s only victory in their last eight BKT United Rugby Championship encounters was 24-17 at home to Zebre Parma in Round 12.
- 5) The Scotsmen have won just twice away from home in the Championship this campaign, both in October,beating Zebre in Parma and Cardiff at the Arms Park.
- 6) Edinburgh have beaten an Irish province just three times since November 2019 and all were against today’s opponents, Connacht.
- 7) Connacht have won only one of their last seven clashes with Edinburgh: 37-26 at BT Murrayfield in October 2020.
- 8) Edinburgh have won on their last two visits to Galway
