Connacht side named for Leicester European Champions Cup Game

Jan 14, 2022 12:14 By Dave Hooper

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Andy Friend has made three changes for Connacht’s side to face Leicester Tigers.

Two of those come in the tight five where Shane Delahunt starts at hooker and Niall Murray comes into the second row. Props Matthew Burke and Finlay Bealham and lock Oisín Dowling retain their places.

The back row as well as the half-back and centre pairings are all unchanged. Jarrad Butler is at number 8 with flankers Cian Prendergast and Conor Oliver alongside him, while Jack Carty captains the side beside scrum-half Kieran Marmion.

Bundee Aki and Sammy Arnold start at 12 and 13 respectively.

The final change is in the back three where Connacht’s all-time record try scorer Matt Healy comes in for his first appearance of the season, starting on the wing with John Porch on the opposite wing and Tiernan O’Halloran at full-back.

"This is a huge game and a huge opportunity for the club, but we’ve been treating this like any other game that we want to win” says Head Coach Andy Friend.

“We’ve grown as a group even in the last month since we visited Leicester, so now it’s all about executing and playing as well as I know we’re capable of”.

“We’ll no doubt miss the few extra thousand supporters who would’ve been at The Sportsground without the current restrictions, but I’m sure those lucky enough to have a ticket will make their voices heard."