Aki and Bealham recalled to starting 15 for Connacht clash with Bristol Bears

Jack Aungier and Finlay Bealham.

Finlay Bealham is delighted that his form for Connacht since the World Cup has seen him included in the Irish squad for the Six Nations where he is determined to add to his 36 international caps.

And he knows that France in Marseille presents a real baptism of fire as the champions begin the defence of their Six Nations crown at the Orange Vélodrome on February 2.

“It will be a bit different to Paris, but it will definitely not be too different the way the French boys play. They have some big boys in the pack and they love to scrum, but then on top of that as well they are all dynamic carriers around the pitch.

“A lot of them are poachers as well, so they have the full bag of sweets. They are all unbelievable athletes and watching them at the weekend for their clubs reinforced that for me.

“Hopefully get picked first and then put my best foot forward. We have a training week coming up and just like always, just take it one day at a time and just it my all, give it my best. That’s all you can do,” said the 32-year old.

The Canberra native has been in excellent form for Connacht since the World Cup and while he sat out the loss in Lyon last weekend, he played in the previous seven games in a row.

And a Champions Cup clash against a Bristol Bears side led by Pat Lam, the coach who really have him the breakthrough in his career at the Sportsground, along with former teammates AJ MacGinty and Kieran Marmion, adds plenty of sub-plot to a Friday night game which Connacht need to win well to snatch a place in the knockout stages of the Challenge Cup.

“They are coming here with a point to prove in this competition and we certainly have a point to prove, so it makes all the ingredients for fireworks,” said Bealham.

He has a breakfast date planned with Marmion, who was groomsman at his wedding in Galway on Saturday morning, but friendships will be put to one side for 80 minutes.

Lam was also at his wedding and Bealham is forever grateful to the fate the coach placed in him with Connacht.

“He took a shine to me when I was a young lad running around the academy,” added Bealham. “At 103 kilos he saw something in me and backed me, and I’ll always be thankful for what he has done for me personally to help with my game.

“He was an incredible coach when he was here, and on top of that he was a really good bloke as well. There are a few lads who would not be where they are without someone like him, and I am certainly one of those people.” Bealham is determined to finish this block of games on a high with Connacht and then move back into Irish camp.

“Champions Cup rugby is the best competition, and we haven’t achieved what we wanted to, but there’s still an opportunity to make a statement against Bristol,” he added.

Connacht head coach Pete Wilkins has made eight changes, with World Cup players Bundee Aki and Finlay Bealham, as expected, recalled to the starting fifteen.

Captain Jack Carty has been dropped to the bench with JJ Hanrahan switching to out-half where he will partner returning matchday skipper Caolin Blade, with Tiernan O’Halloran back from a foot injury which has sidelined him since last month.

David Hawkshaw comes into the side to partner Aki in the centre, while there are a further four changes up front. Bealham and the experienced Denis Buckley take over from Dominic Robertson-McCoy and Peter Dooley, while lock Niall Murray replaces younger brother Darragh. Shamus Hurley-Langton replaces Sean Jansen in the back row.

Bristol Bears will be Ellis Genge but welcome back another powerful England prop Kyle Sinckler and bring a strong side to Galway where Connacht’s 2016 Pro12 winning out-half AJ MacGinty will start and former Sportsground favourite Kieran Marmion is on the bench.

An outlandish series of results over the weekend could see Connacht sneak into the last 16 of the Champions Cup but the real goal is qualification for the knockout stages of the Challenge Cup. To do that, Connacht need to win by at least 20 points or score a bonus point win and ensure that Bristol, who still have a very good chance of making it to the Champions Cup last 16, do not get a match point.

CONNACHT: T O’Halloran; A Smith, D Hawkshaw, B Aki, S Bolton; JJ Hanrahan, C Blade; D Buckley, T McElroy, F Bealham; N Murray, J Joyce; C Prendergast, S Hurley-Langton, J Butler. 

Replacements: D Heffernan, P Dooley, J Aungier, O Dowling, C Oliver, M McDonald, J Carty, O McNulty.

BRISTOL BEARS: M Malins; K Ravouvou, V Vakatawa, B Janse van Rensburg, G Ibitoye; AJ MacGinty, H Randall; J Woolmore, G Oghre, K Sinckler; J Caulfield, J Batley; S Luatua, F Harding (capt), M Bradbury. 

Replacements: W Capon, S Grahamslaw, M Lahiff, J Owen, D Thomas, K Marmion, J Williams, P O'Conor.

Referee: Pierre Brousset (France).