Connacht Rugby have announced the side that will face Munster in the Sportsground this Saturday.

Head Coach Eric Elwood is able to call on lock Mike McCarthy and prop Brett Wilkinson who have been involved with the Irish 6Nations team and welcome back John Muldoon Kyle Tonetti and Henry Fa’afili to the starting lineup. Ronan Loughney moves back to tight-head prop where he has excelled this season and is joined in the front-row by hooker Ethienne Reynecke and Wilkinson. McCarthy and Swift renew their second-row partnership while the Academy’s athletic Mick Kearney joins Ray Ofisa and John Muldoon in the back-row.

Frank Murphy and Miah Nikora continue their half-back pairing with Henry Fa’afili and Eoin Griffin making up the centres. The back three consists of Tiernan O’Halloran, Kyle Tonetti and captain Gavin Duffy at full-back.

The bench sees sub-Academy prop Finlay Bealham making the match-day squad for the first time alongside the return to fitness of Rodney Ah You and both will look to make a big impression from the bench.

The match looks set to break a new record for the highest attendance of a league game for Connacht. The previous record was broken on New Year’s Day when over 6,500 fans packed out the Sportsground for the visit of Leinster and ticket sales for the Munster match have exceeded that already setting up another titanic inter-provincial clash.

Connacht Rugby will be launching their exceptionally popular Season Tickets in the coming days and supporters should keep an eye on www.connachtrugby.ie to avail of the best offers.

Connacht XV to face Munster (The Sportsground – Saturday 24th March – ko 19.45)

15 Gavin Duffy (C)

14 Kyle Tonetti

13 Eoin Griffin

12 Henry Fa’afili

11 Tiernan O’Halloran

10 Miah Nikora

09 Frank Murphy

01 Brett Wilkinson

02 Ethienne Reynecke

03 Ronan Loughney

04 Michael Swift

05 Mike McCarthy

06 Mick Kearney

07 Ray Ofisa

08 John Muldoon



16 Adrian Flavin

17 Finlay Bealham

18 Rodney Ah You

19 Eoin McKeon

20 Eoghan Grace

21 Paul O’Donohoe

22 Matthew Jarvis

23 Dave McSharry

Team:
www.connachtrugby.ie/2012032382796/conna...am-for-munster-clash

what will happen re the fields of athenry.????
we have been signing it all season but since its also munsters song will the munster team get a lift if they hear 7000 people singing it or will they cop on its us singing it for our team

McKeon deserves a chance after his performance in the u20 WC, a Galway man who is also in college in Galway so should be around for at least a few years but without experience at senior level an opportunity to develop a promising young man may be lost to us

Is there a chance McSharry will be selected then? He's not included in the list of injured.

Well at least we now know why McCrea & TJ aren't getting picked!

Not great we're back to the bad old days of zero injury updates by the branch. I feel my moans are of a higher quality when I'm better informed, and lets face it that's what really counts.

sea_point wrote:

ummm, wrote: I'd start McKeon straight off. If he's the backup No. 8 then it's his spot.

Poor form to whoever broke George's hand. They need to earn their own watch, not steal his.

<strong>Yep, be tempted to give the young gun the opportunity</strong>. Mul has been tried at 8 before and with limited success (I'm being polite.. ), I'd rather he stayed at 6 and was at his destructive best from there...

Lot of firepower missing though, and JO'C's nuisance value on oppo ball is really missed.

GalwayAdvertiser wrote: Eric Elwood has nine on the injured list, the latest being Player of the Month and No 8 <strong>George Naoupu </strong>who broke his hand in training. Outhalf <strong>Niall O’Connor </strong>remains sidelined with a hairline fracture suffered in Connacht’s win over Edinburgh, while also out of action are <strong>Dave Gannon, Andrew Browne, Johnny O’Connor, Dave Nolan, TJ Anderson, Mark McCrea and Brian Tuohy.</strong>

Reckon Eric will go with Mul at 6/ Grace at 7 and Razor at 8 though.

I agree, give McKeon a go

EDIT: just saw the advertiser it'll be mul at 8 kearney at 6 ofisa 7

ummm, wrote: I'd start McKeon straight off. If he's the backup No. 8 then it's his spot.

Poor form to whoever broke George's hand. They need to earn their own watch, not steal his.

Yep, be tempted to give the young gun the opportunity. Mul has been tried at 8 before and with limited success (I'm being polite.. ), I'd rather he stayed at 6 and was at his destructive best from there...

Lot of firepower missing though, and JO'C's nuisance value on oppo ball is really missed.

GalwayAdvertiser wrote: Eric Elwood has nine on the injured list, the latest being Player of the Month and No 8 George Naoupu who broke his hand in training. Outhalf Niall O’Connor remains sidelined with a hairline fracture suffered in Connacht’s win over Edinburgh, while also out of action are Dave Gannon, Andrew Browne, Johnny O’Connor, Dave Nolan, TJ Anderson, Mark McCrea and Brian Tuohy.

Reckon Eric will go with Mul at 6/ Grace at 7 and Razor at 8 though.

ConnachtCows wrote:

RonanL wrote:

ConnachtCows wrote: Missing this stupid game as well. Should be in the middle of my Best Mans Speech.
I might check my phone half way through and provide an update on the score in the match, if it's positive

Should be cracking atmosphere there though. Enjoy it all, and get singing and behind the team. I miss Connacht games. Have missed all the home games since Quins. Horrible performance from myself. I've had valid excuses though

I've also missed the home games since Quins, for almost identical reasons!

I may well miss the best man speech, assuming I can convince them to put the game on in the bar

You'd better not miss the speech. I need you shouting scores at me

If they've got Wi-Fi at the hotel sure stream the game on your phone, or download TuneIN app andnpack your headphones ton tune into Rob & Joe on GBFM... :whistle:

I'd start McKeon straight off. If he's the backup No. 8 then it's his spot.

Poor form to whoever broke George's hand. They need to earn their own watch, not steal his.

RonanL wrote:

ConnachtCows wrote: Missing this stupid game as well. Should be in the middle of my Best Mans Speech.
I might check my phone half way through and provide an update on the score in the match, if it's positive

Should be cracking atmosphere there though. Enjoy it all, and get singing and behind the team. I miss Connacht games. Have missed all the home games since Quins. Horrible performance from myself. I've had valid excuses though

I've also missed the home games since Quins, for almost identical reasons!

I may well miss the best man speech, assuming I can convince them to put the game on in the bar

You'd better not miss the speech. I need you shouting scores at me

Why not start McCarthy at 8 and have Kearney partner Swifty? You could also put McKeown on the bench. There problem solved.

www.advertiser.ie/galway/article/50454/s...tsground-on-saturday

Galway Advertiser, March 22, 2012.
By Linley Mackenzie

George is out with a break in his arm. We need options at 8 for next year I really think we lose something when Muldoon has to cover 8 for us.

Not overly hopeful of us picking anything up in this one.

i dont think hes fit tho or is he? I thought he had a fractured jaw or skull?

rossie wrote: In a close game i expect the deciding factor may prove again to be Connacht inability to score enough points from the boot.

To be fair NOC has been very good from the boot in his last few games.

Make sure them spare tickets go to good homes for the night!

Glad to have a game to go to after last Saturdays farce.

Its a winnable game if Munster follow their tradition in this fixture by picking only a handful of first team regulars.

I'm expecting the usual bp loss for Connacht in this fixture or Munster denying us even a bp with last play of game. We threw it away at home to Munster last year and the season before we never turned up at all when a win could have put us in a strong position to finish ahead of Ulster. The last game at Thomond Park on Stephen's Day was an embarrassment.

Our lads should have plenty to prove after that game and the capitulation against Scarlets in the last Rabo game.

Aironi beating Munster was the worst thing that could happen though, they'll be out to ensure no slip ups here.