Challenge Cup First round, second leg: Any notions that Beziers, beaten 18-10 in their own backyard by Connacht last week, might be less than committed in the second leg of their Parker Pen Challenge Cup clash at the Sportsground today have been firmly quashed with the announcement of the French side.
Beziers, leaders of the French Championship, have made 10 changes from the side defeated on Sunday and they have called in five full internationals in an attempt to salvage the tie.
French internationals Jean Marc Aue, Sebastien Bruno, Steven Hall and experienced flanker Arnaud Costes have been drafted in, having missed the tie on Sunday for a variety of reasons. Also back is Argentinian prop Pablo Cardinali for a Beziers side that has a dozen full internationals on the books.
Four replacements who came on in the second half at Stade de la Mediterannee as Beziers reduced Connacht's lead, are also included in the starting XV this time round.
Connacht coach Michael Bradley is, naturally, taking nothing for granted against such formidable opposition.
"Eight points is nothing. Beziers had their chances to go into the second leg with points in the bank, but our defence was very strong. Their pack is formidable in size and we must make sure they don't get either their maul or scrum going," he says.
Connacht closed down the French outfit with a superb display in defence, and tactically they were the wiser, taking their kicks at goal with every chance as Eric Elwood posted six from six attempts.
However, Beziers squandered countless chances and will hardly be so profligate today, and their hooker Sebastien Bruno believes "the eight-point advantage can quickly be wiped out".
"We have a chance to get back in the game if we score early on. We know it's going to be hard in Ireland because Connacht have a good team - their forwards are very well organised, particularly in the lineout, and in Elwood they have an excellent number 10 who punishes every mistake," Bruno says.
Bradley will be keen to ensure his players maintain their discipline, organisation and defence against a side that has the ability to make holes through the best of French championship sides.
"Behind the pack they had some lovely movement and elusive running, and they did get through us a couple of times," he says.
"But we were efficient in what we did, we kept the pressure on, and got the penalties. It was a tough game and we are expecting more of the same."
Connacht have made just two changes. Conor O'Loughlin comes in at scrumhalf, while Paul Neville returns from injury and will start at openside wing forward.
CONNACHT: M McHugh; M Mostyn, D Yapp, T Allnutt, C McPhillips; E Elwood, C O'Loughlin; D McFarland, B Jackman, A Clarke, M McCarthy, D Browne, M Swift, P Neville, J O'Sullivan. Replacements: J Fogarty, F Boiroux, M Lacey, T Carter, M Walls, D Hewitt, T Robinson.
BEZIERS: Arandiga; Escalle (capt), Aue, Audrin, Vainqueur; Todeschini, Broncan; Tolofua, Bruno, Cardinali, Hall, Koita, Petrache, Costes, Llari. Replacements: Shvelidze, Pedesseau, Uanbayev, Nyanga, Durand, Delmotte, Lafforgue.
