Connacht’s young guns to face Samoa
Both coaches have opted to give their squad players an opportunity in this first meeting since 1988, when the Pacific Islanders visited as Western Samoa.
Connacht’s Eric Elwood is using the break in competitive action to rest the bulk of his Magners League starting XV, while Fuimaono Titimaea Tafua has included a handful of Samoan-based players for this tour opener ahead of Saturday’s test match.
Only No 8 Ezra Taylor, just back from injury, Bernie Upton and Troy Nathan have been regular Connacht first-choice players this season, while John Muldoon comes onto the replacement benches at the request of the Irish management who have asked that the flanker gets some game time this week. Bench regulars Ronan Loughney and Adrian Flavin, who captains the side, join Barry Fa’amausili in the front row, while last year’s academy player of the year, Eoin McKeon, forms a backrow partnership with fellow academy graduate Shane Conneely and Taylor.
Elwood says it is a huge challenge for his youngsters to play an international side. “These lads know I have not made too many changes in the team from week to week and there are not too many chances, so this is theirs. I have told them to grab the opportunity to work their way into the team and put their best foot forward,” he says.
Elwood is expecting a tough physical challenge from a nation known for its fierce tackling, and he says it is imperative Connacht win their own set piece to have any chance of winning.
“The only thing I have asked the lads is to be brilliant at the basics. They need to understand the systems, what to do within the patterns, not to do anything fancy, and to work with the systems we have practised.”
The Samoans trained in a downpour yesterday on their arrival into Galway, and Elwood is concerned the bad weather will have a negative impact on both the game and the crowd.
“We have had some poor weather in the last few days and without doubt, it will be a factor. Given that the game is also live on television, it could have an impact both on the pitch and on the crowd.”
CONNACHT: T Nathan, S Monaghan, E Griffin, A Wynne, B Tuohy, M Nikora, C Willis; R Loughney, A Flavin, B Fa’amausili, A Browne, B Upton, E McKeon, M McComish, E Taylor.
Replacements: D Murphy, R Sweeney, D Rogers, J Muldoon, S Conneely, C O’Loughlin, D Fanning.
MANU SAMOA: M Pesamino, F Otto, U Setu, J Helleur, S Sinoti, L Lui (capt), J Poluleluligaga; S Lemalu, T Paulo, L Mulipola, C Slade, D Leo, M Timoteo, F Selesele, R Muagututia.
Replacements: M Schwalger, N Leleimalefaga, F Levi, A Aiono, U Mai, B Vaaulu, G Willliams.
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