Wilkins makes eight changes for Connacht trip to Lyon

MUST WIN: Tom Daly returns to the Connacht starting XV joining Tom Farrell in centre field. Pic: ©INPHO/Ben Brady

Connacht coach Pete Wilkins is hopeful they can rescue their faltering Champions Cup hopes despite heading to France without any of their three World cup players.

Mack Hansen underwent surgery on Monday and is out for three to four months, while Bundee Aki and Finlay Bealham are not included in the squad for the trip to Lyon.

On-loan scrum-half Michael McDonald will make his first start having made his debut off the bench last month against Bordeaux-Bégles. Former Irish U-20 Matthew Devine could follow in the footsteps of his father Mike and make his Connacht senior debut as replacement scrum-half.

In all, Wilkins has made eight changes from the side that ended a five-match losing run when they defeated Munster 22-9 on New Year’s Day, with half of the changes enforced as they look for their first win of the campaign after losing 41-5 at home to Bordeaux-Bégles and 55-36 away to Saracens.

Scrum-half Caolin Blade was following the return-to-play protocols after the Munster game, while centre Cathal Forde is out until next month with a shoulder injury.

Winger Byron Ralston is suspended for three games after being cited for a tackle on Jack O’Donoghue in that win over Munster.

The reshuffle sees JJ Hanrahan go to full-back with skipper Jack Carty starting at out-half, while sevens player Andrew Smith comes in on the right wing and there is a new centre partnership of Tom Daly and Tom Farrell.

Up front Bealham is replaced by Jack Aungier, hooker Dylan Tierney-Martin takes over from Dave Heffernan, while in the back row Seán Jansen comes in for Shamus Hurley-Langton.

“We’re certainly targeting fourth place and there is a home game to finish the group although Bristol are a terrifically strong team,” said Wilkins, whose side could still drop into the Challenge Cup if they fail to make the top four in the Champions Cup.

“Lyon have had their struggles and Toulouse played particularly well against them on Sunday. They’ve had their issues and slipped to 13th place in the Top 14. There’s an opportunity there for us of course but, as we all know, French teams at home are a different proposition.

“The way the fixtures play out for them, they have Perpignan at home when the Top 14 returns after the Champions Cup, which is a huge game for them in the context of their season. And an away trip to Saracens a week before that.

“So I expect them to come for us fully loaded because of that, they’ll be at home and want to do well in front of their home fans and get some confidence, then perhaps de-load against Saracens in order to go again in the league and have a real crack against Perpignan.

“We’re certainly targeting fourth place and there is a home game to finish the group although Bristol are a terrifically strong team,” added Wilkins, whose side could still drop into the Challenge Cup if they fail to make the top four in the Champions Cup.

A narrow loss away to Bristol and a tight win at home to the Bulls leave Lyon in a good position to qualify, but their form in the Top 14 has been horrendous as they slipped into the bottom two at the weekend when they were hammered 45-0 away to Toulouse.

Former Munster and Springbok back rower Arno Botha will skipper a reasonably strong Lyon side where experienced French international lock Romain Taofifenua will be expected to dictate matters. Former Ulster and Irish international Paddy Jackson is at out-half and Italian international Monty Ioane on the right wing, but French scrum-half Baptiste Coulloud and winger Ethan Dumortier are absent.

Lyon: A Tchaptchet; M Ioane, J Maraku, T Regard, T Abrahams ; P Jackson, M Page-Relo ; H Kaabeche, Y Charcosset, D Bamba ; J Kpoku, R Taofifenua; L Allen, A Botha, M Guillard. 

Replacements: G Marchand, J Rey, P Tafili, U Vignolles, M Gouzou, L Rimet, L Berdeu, A Parisien.

Connacht: JJ Hanrahan; A Smith, T Farrell, T Daly, S Bolton; J Carty, M McDonald; P Dooley, D Tierney-Martin, J Aungier; D Murray, J Joyce; C Prendergast, J Butler, S Jansen. 

Replacements: T McElroy, D Buckley, D Robertson-McCoy, O Dowling, C Oliver, M Devine, D Hawkshaw, S Jennings.

Referee: Craig Evans (Wales).