Connacht out for fourth Welsh scalp
The Ospreys travel to Galway as the reigning Celtic League champions, and though they can’t retain the title, they are intent on improving their seeding for next season’s Heineken Cup.
However Connacht, with three wins at home over the other Welsh sides, will be keen to add a fourth scalp. They lost their away match to the Ospreys in controversial circumstances, when Scottish referee Rob Dickson awarded a penalty to the Welsh outfit in front of the posts for time-wasting, denying Connacht a crucial win.
Connacht coach Michael Bradley wants his side to finish with a flourish.
“We have performed reasonably well at home and we want to continue that sequence. Having beaten three Welsh sides already, it would be nice to make it four,” he said.
Having failed to qualify for the Heineken Cup via Europe and the Celtic League, Bradley said it is important to finish well.
“The Ospreys are a good side and capable of putting out a strong line-up so we still need to perform and play with out best available side.
“Last weekend we played well in the first half and had the game won, but we contrived to lose it, so there are a number of things to put right.”
Scrumhalf Chris Keane, prop Ray Hogan and John Muldoon have been passed fit to play, while Bradley retains the same backline that played last week. Mark McHugh continues at out-half, with David Slemen at fullback, Matt Mostyn on the wing, with Jphn Hearty and Gavin Williams forming the centre partnership.
The Ospreys include Lions’ Gavin Henson and Shane Williams in a pacey backline that contains Jason Spice and Stefan Terblanche.
Meanwhile, Jonny Bell is to start his 100th game for Ulster, while Tyrone Howe looks certain to follow suit from the bench.
“My inclusion at the expense of Paul Steinmetz is unfortunate and certainly all the players feel incredibly sorry for him because he has suffered another really bad injury so soon after the other one,” said Howe.
“But clearly I am delighted to be involved with the Ulster 22 in what is such a crucial game going into the last three games of the season.”
Ulster are fancied to win, with Borders having failed to beat the Irish side on five previous occasions in the Celtic League. In fact the Scottish side have only won once away from home.
However, they travel with a strong team which sees captain Paul Thomson returning in place of Tom McGee and back-row Semo Sititi come in for John Dalziel.
D Slemen, M Mostyn, J Hearty, G Williams, D Yapp, M McHugh, C Keane, R Hogan, J Fogarty, S Knoop, D Gannon, A Farley, J Muldoon, M Lacey, C Rigney. Replacements: A Clarke, J Merrigan, M Swift, D McGowan, C McPillips, T Tierney, P Warwick.
A Clarke, J Merrigan, D McFarland, M Swift.
S Terblanche, J Vaughton, S Parker, G Henson, S Williams, S Conor, J Spice, D Jones (captain), H Bennett, A Jones, A Jones, I Evans, J Bater, J Thomas, A Lloyd. Replacements: B Williams, P James, L Bateman, R Pugh, M Roberts, J Hook, A Bishop.
B Cunningham, T Bowe, A Trimble, J Bell, A Maxwell, D Humphreys, I Boss; B Young, R Best, S Best (cpt), J Harrison, M McCullough, N Best, S Ferris, R Wilson.
Replacements: P Shields, J Fitzpatrick, R Caldwell, N McMillan, K Campbell, P Wallace, T Howe.
S Moffett; S Danielli, B MacDougall, C MacRae, N Walker; G Townsend, B McKerchar, P Thompson, S Scott, B Douglas, S MacLeod, O Palepoi, K Brown, A Miller, S Sititi.
Replacements: S Cromble, T McGee, C Stewart, J Dalziel, J Weston, C Hore, G Law.
J. Jones (WRU).
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