FINLAY BEALHAM WILL make his first Connacht appearance of the season when they face the Sharks in the United Rugby Championship this Saturday.
The Ireland international is one of eight changes to the XV for the clash in Durban after representing Ireland at the World Cup.
In the second row, Oisin Dowling and Joe Joyce have got the nod while Cian Prendergast, captain Conor Oliver and Sean O’Brien are set to start in an unchanged back row following last week’s 25-22 defeat away to Edinburgh.
🟢 TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT 🟢
— Connacht Rugby (@connachtrugby) November 17, 2023
Here's your Connacht 23 for tomorrow, captained by Conor Oliver and including the returning Finlay Bealham 🙌#SHAvCON | #BKTURC
Full story: https://t.co/q8JiP8eGQy pic.twitter.com/8ldrBbawDV
Head coach Pete Wilkins explained about Belham’s return: “He has brought great energy as well as international quality to the group. Elsewhere our team selection represents a blend of those that have delivered significant performances for us across the first four games of the URC season.
“The quality of our bench will be a crucial element in what we expect to be a physical and fast-paced game in hot conditions.”
Colm Reilly and JJ Hanrahan have been selected as a new half-back pairing, but for the fourth game this season Cathal Forde and Tom Farrell are in the centre. Byron Ralston will operate on the wing with Andrew Smith and Tiernan O’Halloran in the back three.
Connacht
- 15. Tiernan O’Halloran
- 14. Byron Ralston
- 13. Tom Farrell
- 12. Cathal Forde
- 11. Andrew Smith
- 10. JJ Hanrahan
- 9. Colm Reilly
- 1. Denis Buckley
- 2. Tadgh McElroy
- 3. Finlay Bealham
- 4. Oisín Dowling
- 5. Joe Joyce
- 6. Cian Prendergast
- 7. Conor Oliver (65) (captain)
- 8. Sean O’Brien
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Patrick Curran and Bennett was fantastic. They’ll be around for years to come unfortunately for the rest of us!
Were*
Big wake up call for Limerick today. Comfortably second best… Exposed at the back and up front…
Great second half performance from na Deise. Very clinical and opened up Limerick well. The goals today show that there is more to our game that some think.
Limerick were so poor today. Hard to understand why they continue with the handpassing game from the back. I lost count how many times we lost the ball and gave away needless scores. Terrible stuff.
Because we let ourselves down with running with it out from the back 3 years ago, Kevin. We try new things, but the truth is, the defense have no real quality anymore. New players needed fast.
The forwards weren’t much better Conor. It’s depressing, munster last night, Limerick today and now clare hammering kk. I need to go Into hibernation.
Ya they should be buston out
100% right they should be Buston out of defence
Derek McGrath comfortably won the side battle today.
TJ Ryan is hurling’s equivalent of this guy:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6KeG_i8CWE8
Your time is up TJ. Our county board can stop providing ‘jobs for the boys’ and give the post to a coach who is actually qualified to do it.
Kilkenny will destroy Waterford in the final
They will have to get to the final 1sr
You were saying
Some bell end typical Kilkenny, up there own arse half the time
Haha how’d that work out for you Aidan?????
He’s talking about the all Ireland final
Which final
Mystic Aiden …. Not
It’s only April sunshine don’t carried away beating Kilkenny b team . Good see small teams getting big day out in two weeks time .
Last year’s hoty on the b team now?