Challenge Cup: Cardiff v Connacht, Cardiff Arms Park, Friday, 8.0 – Live on Premier Sports
At face value this may not look like one of Connacht’s most significant games of the season, and even has a slightly humdrum Friday night URC feel to it. But perceptions can be deceptive. Ultimately, this could be one of their most significant matches of the season.
With three bonus-point wins, at home to Parma and Lyon either side of Perpignan away, Connacht have already ensured they will top Pool 1 of the Challenge Cup, and a top three seeding, so also assuring themselves of a home Round of 16 tie against one of the three fourth-placed sides in this competition. Furthermore, win that and Connacht would also have a home quarter-final.
However, were they to beat Cardiff in the Arms Park, Connacht would guarantee themselves a top-two seeding in the knock-out stages, meaning they would also have the prize of a home semi-final should they reach the last four.
Ireland’s Six Nations squad, winners and losers
In light of how their URC game against Munster at MacHale Park quickly became a 25,000 sell-out, the province would surely have hopes of returning there for a major knock-out match, as well as enhancing their chances of reaching a first Challenge Cup final back in Cardiff on May 23rd in the Principality Stadium.
The Counter Ruck: the rugby newsletter from The Irish Times
Champions Cup team news: O’Mahony returns for Munster; Ringrose named on Leinster wing
Matt Williams: Begrudgers in Ireland must never be permitted to pull Leinster down
Ulster can edge battle of winless sides and prolong European season in Challenge Cup
As the Dexcom Stadium undergoes its rebuild, that would be a huge boon for Connacht rugby and it would seem Pete Wilkins and the branch hierarchy are aware of the potential ramifications for Friday night’s match given their selection.
Wilkins makes just four changes from the side that beat Lyon 52-24 last Saturday in Galway, with Byron Ralston starting on the wing, while Josh Murphy, Conor Oliver and Paul Boyle are recalled to the pack.
The experienced frontrow of Peter Dooley, Dave Heffernan and Finlay Bealham are retained yet again, as is the halfback pairing of Ben Murphy and Josh Ioane. The midfield combination of Bundee Aki and Piers O’Conor remain the same, and captain Cian Prendergast, lock Joe Joyce and Argentina fullback Santiago Cordero are all named again.
Among the replacements, there is the welcome return of JJ Hanrahan after his recovery from the ACL injury he sustained against the Dragons last April.
Describing this game as “both an enormous opportunity and a massive challenge”, Wilkins said: “To finish as one of the top two seeds would give us huge motivation for the rest of the competition, and I’ve no doubt we have the ability to get the result we need. We’re also conscious that Cardiff are a very tough, physical side who are strong at home and have their own motivations to win. So it should be a great contest.”
Matt Sherratt has made five changes to the injury-hit Cardiff side (15 players are sidelined including Welsh trio Taulupe Faletau, Josh Adams and James Botham) which lost 23-20 in Perpignan last weekend, with Wales internationals Ellis Bevan and Ben Thomas pairing up at halfback.
Thomas is one of only two options at outhalf in the Wales squad which Warren Gatland named on Monday, alongside uncapped Ospreys youngster Dan Edwards, albeit the talented the 26-year-old has only played there once for Cardiff in the past two seasons.
Cardiff sit third in the URC, whereas Connacht are 13th at the halfway point, albeit their schedules have been in marked contrast. But opportunity knocks for Wilkins’s side.
CARDIFF: Jacob Beetham; Gabe Hamer-Webb, Rey Lee-Lo, Rory Jennings, Tom Bowen; Ben Thomas (capt), Ellis Bevan; Rhys Barratt, Evan Lloyd, Keiron Assiratti; Josh McNally, Teddy Williams; Alex Mann, Thomas Young, Alun Lawrence.
Replacements: Efan Daniel, Danny Southworth, Rhys Litterick, Rory Thornton, Seb Davies, Johan Mulder, Callum Sheedy, Cam Winnett.
CONNACHT: Santiago Cordero; Chay Mullins, Piers O’Conor, Bundee Aki, Byron Ralston; Josh Ioane, Ben Murphy; Peter Dooley, Dave Heffernan, Finlay Bealham; Josh Murphy, Joe Joyce; Cian Prendergast (capt), Conor Oliver, Paul Boyle.
Replacements: Eoin de Buitlear, Jordan Duggan, Jack Aungier, David O’Connor, Sean Jansen, Matthew Devine, JJ Hanrahan, David Hawkshaw.
Referee: Morne Ferreira (SA).
Forecast: Connacht to win.
- Sign up for push alerts and have the best news, analysis and comment delivered directly to your phone
- Join The Irish Times on WhatsApp and stay up to date
- Listen to the Counter Ruck podcast for the best rugby chat and analysis
