Connacht kicked off their URC season last week with a tight loss to Munster on the road. Making it four URC games without a win for Connacht when you include last season. So this week with the Sharks coming to Galway, Connacht will be looking to keep up the sharpness in attack and tighten up in defence to hopefully get a first win on the board
Connacht have named what has to be one of the most experienced front rows in pro rugby, with Denis Buckley now only the 3rd player to reach 250 caps in green. He is joined in the front row with returning international Finlay Bealham and the ever present Dave Heffernan.
The other changes in the pack are firstly injury enforced with Niall Murray in for the injured Joe Joyce and secondly Emerging Ireland related as David Oconnor gets his 1st Connacht cap with Darragh Murray on his was to South Africa.
An unchanged back row of Josh Murphy, Conor Oliver and captain Cian Prendergast from last week will want to repeat the physical showing from the match in Limerick, surrounds a new 2nd row partnership in the pack.
As a collective they will be aiming to give the backs a solid platform to work off but also shut down James Venter who made the most dominant tackles in last season (22), accounting for 11.6% of his tackles. His general collision dominance was 20.4%.
Shane Jennings is the only change in the back line that caused havoc last week in Thomond, after the injury to Shayne Bolton (leg laceration) which also took him out of the Emerging Ireland squad.
The new half back pairing of Josh Murphy and Ben Ioane making their Dexcom debuts, will want to keep Connacht moving and will hopefully recreate the accuracy and tempo from their Rd 1 performance. Connacht had the highest pass per ruck ratio last week across the league and 60% of all touches were passes.
What was most impressive about Connacht ball in hand was how clinical they were going forward, they had a 4.1 point return per 22 entry last week which is absolutely massive!
If Mack is as influential with the ball again this week, he had five offloads, and beat four defenders, that will go a long way to keeping Connacht going on the right track.
The Sharks will want to start their season well, and proved towards the end of last year in the Challenge Cup that they can put performances together and get wins on the road.
Two weeks after their Currie Cup victory, will their 23 minus internationals, and some injuries, be able to start strong or will Connacht make it 3 wins in a row vs the Sharks.
Hollywoodbets Sharks
- Ntuthuko Mchunu
- Dylan Richardson
- Ruan Dreyer*
- Jason Jenkins*
- Gerbrandt Grobler
- James Venter
- Vincent Tshituka (Captain)
- Manu Tshituka*
- Bradley Davids
- Siya Masuku
- Ethan Hooker
- Andre Esterhuizen
- Jurenzo Julius*
- Eduan Keyter
- Jordan Hendrikse*
Replacements
- Fez Mbatha
- Trevor Nyakane*
- Hanro Jacobs
- Corne’ Rahl
- Reniel Hugo
- Tino Mavesere
- Tian Meyer*
- Gurswin Wehr*
*Denotes debut for the Hollywoodbets Sharks
Dexcom Stadium, Galway – KO 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA & SA
Referee: Federico Vedovelli (FIR, 10th game)
AR 1: Eoghan Cross (IRFU) AR 2: Paul Haycock (IRFU) TMO: Stefano Penne (FIR)
Live on: TG4, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv
THE 2ND ROW 