Forde and Victory blow for Connacht but Ioane returns for crunch Munster clash

Munster are in fifth on 51 points and Lancaster knows there is a lot riding on this clash at a sold out Dexcom Stadium on Saturday.

Connacht’s Josh Ioane, Pic: James Crombie/Inpho

Connacht’s hopes of making the knockout stages of the URC have been dealt a double blow with centre Cathal Forde and emerging hooker Matthew Victory both ruled out for the remainder of the campaign.

Forde, who suffered a wrist injury in the superb win away to the Stormers, has been one of Connacht’s best players all season and was putting himself in contention for the Irish squad for the inaugural Nations Championship.