MICHAEL McDONALD is set to make his first Connacht start at scrum-half away to Lyon in the Champions Cup tomorrow [KO 1pm, TNT Sports & SkyGo app).
Head coach Pete Wilkins will be hoping the former Australia U20 international can help his side take confidence from the United Rugby Championship win over Munster on New Year's Day.
Defeats to Saracens and Bordeaux have left Connacht at the bottom of Pool 1 and the Lyon clash could also mean a debut for Ballinasloe man Matthew Devine who was named among the replacements.
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Your Connacht match day squad for tomorrow away to @LeLOURugby1 👊
9️⃣ First start for Michael McDonald 🔙 Sean Jansen returns 🟢 JJ at full back
“Preparations have been going really well for this trip to France. We gave the group a few days to recover after the Munster game which was important, then we came in last Thursday and Friday to review, which then allowed us the full week to prep for Lyon. So the build-up has gone really well," Wilkins said.
"Lyon, like many French teams, have plenty of talented individuals who will punish you if given the opportunity. We’ll travel down there aiming to put our stamp on the game and if we do that and play to our ability, we’ll have a great chance.”
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Michael McDonald set for first Connacht start away to Lyon in Champions Cup
MICHAEL McDONALD is set to make his first Connacht start at scrum-half away to Lyon in the Champions Cup tomorrow [KO 1pm, TNT Sports & SkyGo app).
Head coach Pete Wilkins will be hoping the former Australia U20 international can help his side take confidence from the United Rugby Championship win over Munster on New Year's Day.
Defeats to Saracens and Bordeaux have left Connacht at the bottom of Pool 1 and the Lyon clash could also mean a debut for Ballinasloe man Matthew Devine who was named among the replacements.
“Preparations have been going really well for this trip to France. We gave the group a few days to recover after the Munster game which was important, then we came in last Thursday and Friday to review, which then allowed us the full week to prep for Lyon. So the build-up has gone really well," Wilkins said.
"Lyon, like many French teams, have plenty of talented individuals who will punish you if given the opportunity. We’ll travel down there aiming to put our stamp on the game and if we do that and play to our ability, we’ll have a great chance.”
Connacht
Replacements:
Lyon
15 Alexandre Tchaptchet
14 Monty Ioane
13 Josiah Maraku
12 Thibaut Regard
11 Thaakir Abrahams
10 Paddy Jackson
9 Martin Page-Relo
Replacements
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Champions Cup Connacht trust