Lam predicts -22°C temperatures as he names Connacht side for Siberian showdown

ACADEMY GRADUATE PETER Robb will make his Connacht debut tomorrow morning when Connacht take on Enisei-STM in freezing Siberia.

Head coach Pat Lam predicted that temperatures could drop as low as -22°C as he named an experimental side for the European Challenge Cup opener.

USA international outhalf AJ MacGinty makes his first start for the province while another Academy prospect, James Connolly, comes in at openside for his first start of the season.

“We said from the start that this was going to be a massive mental challenge for everybody involved but I must say that the boys have handled the challenges thrown at them really well so far,” Lam said.

“We have adjusted to the environment as best we can in three days and have done all the necessary preparation ahead of tomorrow’s game.

We talked a lot about the weather but I think we underestimated how cold it actually would be. It was a shock to all of us. Tomorrow it could hit as low as -22 degrees, so again it’s another test of our mental toughness.

“This is a big test for the guys selected tomorrow but if we nail our detail and have the right mindset, we will put pressure on a side that will be hugely motivated in their first European game.”

Kick-off in Krasnoyarsk is at 8am Irish time (3pm local).

Connacht (v Enisei-STM)

15. Darragh Leader
14. Rory Parata
13. Bundee Aki
12. Peter Robb
11. Niyi Adeolokun
10. AJ MacGinty
9. Ian Porter

1. Denis Buckley
2. Shane Delahunt
3. Finlay Bealham
4. Ultan Dillane
5. Aly Muldowney
6. John Muldoon (c)
7. James Connolly
8. George Naoupu

Replacements:

16. Dave Heffernan
17. Ronan Loughney
18. Conan O’Donnell
19. Danny Qualter
20. Sean O’Brien
21. Caolin Blade
22. Jack Carty
23. Craig Ronaldson

The Wallabies are coming to Dublin next year as part of their ‘Grand Slam’ tour