European Challenge Cup/El Salvador v Connacht:Nothing but a bonus-point victory will do for Connacht when they face Cetransa El Salvador in Spain tomorrow morning.
In taking their European campaign to Spain for the first time, Connacht will be hoping to complete the double over El Salvador to maintain any hopes of qualifying as one of three best runners-up.
And having already lost to Brive and Newcastle away, and with two pool matches remaining, Connacht cannot slip up.
Last evening Newcastle moved to the top of the Pool on 19 points after they defeated Brive 19-12 in France, a result that may well repeat the favour of two years ago when their victory over the French side ensured Connacht's qualification. With Connacht hosting Brive in the final pool match, it certainly keeps alive their interest in the competition.
As a result coach Michael Bradley has named a strong line-up for this challenge at Valladolid's Campo de Pepe Rojo, with just three changes from the side that overcame Llanelli a week ago.
As expected Daniel Riordan returns to the centre having recovered from flu in the only back-line change, while up front flanker Ray Ofisa and lock Michael Swift replace Johnny O'Connor and David Gannon, who move to the bench.
The only new face in the squad is Connacht's most recent recruit, the Australian Liam Bibo, who had been named in the line-up to face Munster but was forced to withdraw with a calf injury.
"We have had experience on the road of losing to sides against whom we should have won - Catania, for example, a couple of years ago - and we do not want that to happen again," says Bradley.
"We are certainly not taking it lightly. We are putting our best team forward. We need to get as much as we can from this match to have some chance of advancing."
Having routed the Spanish side by 75-8 at the Galway Sportsground in their biggest win in Europe, Connacht can expect to claim victory tomorrow.
Although without a win in Europe this season, El Salvador are unbeaten in their domestic championship and they will see this match as an opportunity to put on something of a show for their growing base of home fans.
They pride themselves on a strong set-piece from a competitive pack of forwards, which will be helpful if the rain in Spain persists.
However, this mainly amateur outfit should be unable to live with Connacht, who ought to prevail comfortably.
CONNACHT: G Duffy; D Yapp, D Riordan, M Deane, A Wynne; A Dunne, C O'Loughlin; B Wilkinson, A Flavin, R Morris; M Swift, A Farley (capt); M McCarthy, R Ofisa, C Rigney. Replacements: J Fogarty, R Loughney, D Gannon, J O'Connor, C McPhillips, T Donnelly, L Bibo.
CETRANSA EL SALVADOR: M Stanley; T Brouwer, J Revilla, R Van Eyk, L Gascon; A Gutierrez, D Hunter; I Insausti, D Marron, M Serrano; S Souto, O Benito; F Galloppa, J Molina, I Criado (capt). Replacements; C Caballerio, J Miranda, J Zapatero, F Suarez, L Turrion, R Turrion, I Gutierrez.
Venue: Campo de Pepe Rojo
Kick-off: 11.30pm (Irish time)
Pool Three
P W D L T F A TB LB Pts
Newcastle 5 4 0 1 19 167 57 2 1 19
Brive 5 3 0 2 18 157 58 2 2 17
Connacht 4 2 0 2 14 97 75 1 0 9
El Salvador 4 0 0 4 3 26 257 0 0 0
Results To-date
Brive 15, Connacht 6; El Salvador 10, Newcastle 71; Newcastle 25, Brive 19; Connacht 75, El Salvador 8; Connacht 16, Newcastle 13; Brive 71, El Salvador 0; El Salvador 8, Brive 40; Newcastle 39, Connacht 0.
Last night: Brive 12, Newcastle 19.
Remaining Fixtures
Sunday: El Salvador v Connacht. January 18th: Connacht v Brive. January 20th: Newcastle v El Salvador.
