Mayo man returns to Connacht starting XV for BKT URC clash with Cardiff
Connacht head coach Pete Wilkins has named a side that features Mayo man Dave Heffernan for tomorrow’s trip to Cardiff in the BKT United Rugby Championship. Kick-off is at 5.15 p.m. in Cardiff Arms Park.
Heffernan is one of four new faces in the team that saw off Bristol Bears in their last outing, the others being Jack Aungier, Conor Oliver and the fit-again Cathal Forde.
Forde partners David Hawkshaw in the centre while the back three of full-back Tiernan O’Halloran and wingers Shayne Bolton and Andrew Smith is unchanged. Caolin Blade captains the side from scrum-half, with J.J. Hanrahan alongside him.
Denis Buckley plays alongside Heffernan and Aungier in the front row, while the second row of Niall Murray and Joe Joyce is unchanged. The back row sees Cian Prendergast move to the number eight position, with Shamus Hurley-Langton going to blindside flanker and Oliver at openside.
Commenting ahead of the game, head coach Pete Wilkins said: “The break was helpful for a number of reasons – both in terms of giving the group some down-time after 13 straight weeks, and then allowing us the time to put in some good training sessions and work on the areas we’d like to improve on. Coupled with the return of a few players back from injury, everyone’s really positive about the next block of games, starting tomorrow.
“We’ve had some close battles with Cardiff down the years and historically they’re one of the teams we’re competing with for a playoff spot, so we fully appreciate the importance of the game. If we play to our strengths and take the opportunities when they come, it’ll give us a great chance to come home with the win.”
The starting team for the game is: Tiernan O’Halloran, Shayne Bolton, David Hawkshaw, Cathal Forde, Andrew Smith, J.J. Hanrahan, Caolin Blade; Denis Buckley, Dave Heffernan, Jack Aungier, Niall Murray, Joe Joyce, Shamus Hurley-Langton, Conor Oliver, Cian Prendergast.
The replacements' bench is filled by: Tadgh McElroy, Peter Dooley, Sam Illo, Oisín Dowling, Jarrad Butler, Michael McDonald, Jack Carty and Tom Farrell.