Denis Buckley to make his 250th appearance for Connacht against Sharks

Finlay Bealham makes his first this season as he returns to the front row in place of Jack Aungier who has linked up with Emerging Ireland. 

250th APPEARANCE: Denis Buckley will join an elite club at Connacht Rugby as he becomes only the third player to line out for the province for 250 appearances. Picture: ©INPHO/James Crombie

Connacht Head Coach Pete Wilkins has made four changes to his sidewho lost to Munster last weekend for their first home game of the BKT URC when they take on Sharks at Dexcom Stadium on Saturday (7.35pm).

Finlay Bealham makes his first start this season replacing Jack Aungier as he joins Dave Heffernan and Denis Bucklyin the front row. Buckley will line out for his 250th appearance and becomes just the third player to reach this landmark milestone alongside John Muldoon and Michael Swift.

Niall Murray and Shane Jennings come into the starting XV to replace the injured Joe Joyce and Shayne Bolton. David O'Connor is handed his debut as he come in for Darragh Murray. Aungier and Darragh Murray are travelling with the Emerging Ireland Tour to South Africa.

There is one change to the 6-2 bench with Paul Boyle wearing number 23 for Sean Jansen who is also linking up with Emerging Ireland. 

Wilkins is looking forward to their first home game of the season and buildling on their narrow loss to Munster in their opening game. 

“I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s game. Our intensity and overall performance last week was encouraging despite the bitter disappointment of the result. Against a very strong Sharks team we will require a repeat of that effort along with evidence of growth in our game from round one.

"Picking up home wins in such a tight league will be crucial, and I know the sold out Dexcom crowd will provide huge energy to the lads regardless of the slightly different surroundings.

"It’s an important day for two of our players for very different reasons – with Denis earning his 250th cap and David O’Connor his debut. We’re determined to give them a fitting performance.”

Elsewhere, Ulster have named their side to take on Lions in Johannesburg on Saturday (11.55am Irish time). 

Alan O'Connor will captain the side as he is joined by Kieran Treadwell in the second row. Andy Warwick comes in at loosehead joined by John Andrew and Tom O'Toole in the front row.

Matty Rea, Sean Reffell and Nick Timoney make up the back row. 

John Cooney starts at scrum-half after missing the opening game due to a hamstring injury and will line out with Aidan Morgan. 

Stuart McCloskey comes into the starting XV and partners Stewart Moore in the centre. South African winger Werner Kok makes his first start for Ulster on the wing joining Jack Stockdale. Ethan McIlroy completes the line up starting at full back.

Murphy has gone for a 6:2 split on the bench, with James McCormick, Eric O’Sullivan, Corrie Barrett, Iain Henderson, James McNabney, David McCann, Nathan Doak and Mike Lowry.

CONNACHT (v Sharks): S Cordero, M Hansen, P O'Conor, C Forde, S Jennings, J Ioane, B Murphy; D Buckley, D Heffernan, F Bealham, N Murray, D O'Connor, J Murphy, C Oliver, C Prendergast (c)

Replacements: D Tierney-Martin, P Dooley, S Illo, O Dowling, S Hurley-Langton, C Blade, D Hawkshaw, P Boyle

ULSTER (v Lions): E McIlroy, W Kok, S Moore, S McCloskey, J Stockdale, A Morgan, J Cooney; A Warwick, J Andrew, T O’Toole, K Treadwell, A O’Connor (C), M Rea, S Reffell, N Timoney.

Replacements: J McCormick, E O’Sullivan, C Barrett, I Henderson, J McNabney, N Doak, M Lowry, D McCann.