BUNDEE AKI IS fit to start Connacht’s opening Champions Cup clash with Bordeaux on Friday.
It will be Aki’s first appearance since Ireland’s World Cup quarter-final defeat to New Zealand, having been sidelined with a hamstring injury. With Aki back, Cathal Forde will shuffle across to outside-centre.
Mack Hansen, meanwhile, starts at full-back.
Another Irish international, Finlay Bealham, also starts having began last weekend’s defeat to Leinster on the bench.
Caolin Blade and JJ Hanrahan continue their half-back partnership.
Bordeaux, meanwhile, are bringing their front-line stars to Galway, with Damien Penaud and Mathieu Jalibert included in their starting XV.
Connacht
- 15. Mack Hansen
- 14. Byron Ralston
- 13. Cathal Forde
- 12. Bundee Aki
- 11. Andrew Smith
- 10. JJ Hanrahan
- 9. Caolin Blade (C)
- 1. Denis Buckley
- 2. Dave Heffernan
- 3. Finlay Bealham
- 4. Darragh Murray
- 5. Joe Joyce
- 6. Cian Prendergast
- 7. Shamus Hurley-Langton
- 8. Seán Jansen
Replacements
- 16. Tadgh McElroy
- 17. Peter Dooley
- 18. Jack Aungier
- 19. Niall Murray
- 20. Conor Oliver
- 21. Michael McDonald
- 22. David Hawkshaw
- 23. John Porch
Bordeaux
𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗼 ♟
— UBB Rugby (@UBBrugby) December 7, 2023
Le Centre Commercial Aushopping Bordeaux Lac vous présente les 23 Bordeaux & Blanc qui affronteront le @connachtrugby demain à 21h00 (heure française) !
𝐉1️⃣
🏟 Galway Greyhound Satdium
📆 8 décembre
📱 #CONvUBB
➡ https://t.co/TuMoXAUfAy#iloveubb pic.twitter.com/aU2cVmtslM
Top player. Will be a great addition to one of the big clubs after next season.
@Stephen Walsh: your 2 years late with that attempt of a joke
Considering not a soul gave LFC any chance to realistically compete for the title back in September, the progress this season has been significant, regardless of what happens. The long-awaited return of Oxlade-Chamberlin could be the tonic in midfield LFC have desperately missed this season.
@Dave O’Shaughnessy: him and Gomez will really make a difference in the final few games hopefully
The guy is a collossus
@Ronan McGrath: and imagine… he survived appendicitis. Some man for one man… made of the same stuff as POC?
I hope Liverpool bury Spurs on Sunday and keep their dodgy run going.
Will move to Spain
Will look good in a Barca jersey, you heard it here first
@David Weston: fantastic scoop lad. Hopefully the 42 are hiring.
Van Dijk. Is this not the same guy that was found out while playing for Holland against Germany?