ANDREW BROWNE WILL make his long-awaited first appearance of the season for Connacht in tomorrow night’s Guinness Pro14 meeting with Ospreys at the Sportsground [KO 7.35pm, live on YouTube via TG4].
Browne has yet to play for new head coach Kieran Keane due to a persistent achilles injury, for which he eventually underwent surgery back in October.
He starts in the second row alongside James Cannon, who’s also back from a recent injury lay-off. Another player returning from injury to start against the Welsh side is out-half Craig Ronaldson.
Ireland centre Bundee Aki and scrum-half Kieran Marmion are unavailable due to their involvement in Saturday’s Six Nations game against Italy, while Quinn Roux has also remained in camp having initially been released and named among the Connacht replacements.
Connacht:
15. Tiernan O’Halloran
14. Cian Kelleher
13. Eoin Griffin
12. Tom Farrell
11. Matt Healy
10. Craig Ronaldson
9. Caolin Blade
1. Denis Coulson
2. Tom McCartney
3. Conor Carey
4. Andrew Browne
5. James Cannon
6. Eoghan Masterson
7. Naulia Dawai
8. John Muldoon (captain)
Replacements:
16. Shane Delahunt
17. Peter McCabe
18. Dominic Robertson McCoy
19. Gavin Thornbury
20. James Connolly
21. James Mitchell
22. Jack Carty
23. Pita Ahki
Ospreys:
15. Dan Evans
14. Hanno Dirksen
13. Kieron Fonotia
12. Ashley Beck
11. Dafydd Howells
10. Sam Davies
9. Tom Habberfield
1. Rhodri Jones
2. Scott Otten
3. Dmitri Arhip
4. Lloyd Ashley
5. James King
6. Olly Cracknell
7. Will Jones
8. Rob McCusker (captain)
Replacements:
16. Sam Parry
17. Nicky Smith
18. Ma’afu Fia
19. Guy Mercer
20. Sam Cross
21. Reuben Morgan-Williams
22. Luke Price
23. Joe Thomas
Are the All Blacks that good or are Australia just really bad?
@Harry O’Callaghan: Very difficult to tell and was asking the same question to myself watching the game. All Blacks had moments of undoubted class but some of the Australian play was schoolboy stuff.
@Harry O’Callaghan: …World Cup is what Dave Rennie is working towards and the 2027 one if I picked it up right. Australia are putting together a serious bid for that one….blooded debutant, inexperienced youngsters and I believe will continue to do so. 20 – 22 yr old will be just in their prime then. You can expect a few scores like that I think. However, a serious coach and
@Harry O’Callaghan: far too young a squad to face the ABs. They might have had some chance if o Connor or tomua were there, but as it was they were lacking guile and leadership in every facet of the game.
Australia were shocking bad in the first half. Hoofing the ball for no reason was initial tactic. Couldn’t get more than a few phases without knocking on or giving possession away. Dont think the AB’s broke a sweat.
Australia wants to join the Six Nations – to have a chance of winning some of the games against Italy. I think we know why South Africa wants to join the Six Nations.
Can’t believe delete my comment woke culture