IRISH INTERNATIONAL ULTAN Dillane is set to make his 100th Connacht appearance tomorrow after he was named in the matchday 23 to face Zebre in the Guinness PRO14 (2.30pm kick-off).
Dillane is among the replacements for Andy Friend’s side, which shows six changes from the team that lost to Scarlets at The Sportsground last weekend. Dillane made his Connacht debut in December 2014 and was a starter in the Guinness PRO12 final 18 months later.
Meanwhile Sean O’Brien has ended a long injury absence to be handed his first starting jersey in nearly two years. The Galway native last started for Connacht in the 2018 Christmas interpro against Ulster, with his only appearance last season coming off the bench against Leinster in November before suffering serious shoulder and foot injuries.
O’Brien lines out in a new look back row with Sean Masterson at openside flanker and Jarrad Butler captaining the side from number 8.
O’Brien’s brother Eoghan is drafted into the second row alongside Gavin Thornbury, while there is a change of both props with Denis Buckley and Jack Aungier starting alongside hooker Shane Delahunt.
In the backs Colm Reilly and Jack Carty continue their half-back partnership, while Tom Farrell comes into the centre alongside Tom Daly with Sammy Arnold moving to the wing. Alex Wootton and John Porch complete the side.
Head Coach Andy Friend said: “While there was huge frustration and disappointment with last week’s result, we’ve parked that now and put all our focus and energy on picking up a win in Italy. Parma can be a tough place to go but first and foremost we need to return to the level performance I know we’re capable of.
“I’d like to congratulate Ultan Dillane on potentially making his 100th appearance for Connacht, and I’m also delighted to welcome Sean O’Brien back in the side after his long layoff. I’ve seen first-hand the efforts he’s made to get back to full fitness, so his return is a big boost for us.”
CONNACHT
15. John Porch (22)
14. Sammy Arnold (5)
13. Tom Farrell (61)
12. Tom Daly (29)
11. Alex Wootton (5)
10. Jack Carty (143)
9. Colm Reilly (2)
1. Denis Buckley (183)
2. Shane Delahunt (81)
3. Jack Aungier (5)
4. Eoghan Masterson (95)
5. Gavin Thornbury (43)
6. Sean O’Brien (57)
7. Sean Masterson (4)
8. Jarrad Butler (C) (60)
16. Jonny Murphy (8)
17. Paddy McAllister (13)
18. Dominic Robertson-McCoy (55)
19. Ultan Dillane (99)
20. Abraham Papali’I (3)
21. Stephen Kerins (10)
22. Conor Fitzgerald (26)
23. Peter Sullivan (3)
The42 Rugby Weekly / SoundCloud
Very young for this role but fair play to him a fine hurler
@Finnster: don’t know how he got young hurler of the year , won nothing was taken off in most senior games .Jake Morris won 2 All Ireland’s and made a massive contribution in both , makes me wonder
@Martin: Ha good man Martin. In 2014 Kilkenny went unbeaten, won every competition and still got less all stars.
Mullen got taken off in 2 games the final when he was clearly not right and the leinster 2nd round game with 4 mins to go and he fell awkwardly.
Jake Morris got 3 point in the Munster final, AI quarter, Semi and Final combined. Mullen got 4 vs Limerick in semi alone.
@Shay Lawlor: Facts isn’t his strong point.
@Shay Lawlor: and Mullen won what ?
Rewarding failure is a bad road to go down . Time to get over 2014 now I think
@Martin: it’s young hurler of the year. Not which young hurler played on the better team. Your argument is silly
@thomas walsh: Morris made a massive contribution to both All Ireland winning teams but only in my humble opinion , so sorry if that’s a silly argument
Why not pick a starter instead of a couple of subs
@Martin: they pick the captain a different way in Kilkenny
@Paddy: they should have gave TJ another go 3rd time lucky and all that
@Martin: all the luck in the world isn’t going to swing an AI for this Kilkenny group. They’re really very average and I would rank them probably at 6 in the pecking order. Not Cody’s fault , it’s just the supply line has dried up.
@Johnny B: I’ve seen them written off too many times before , I know they don’t get away with what they used to but ask Limerick they had them beaten a point a man in 2018
@Martin: didn’t do much good come the final, never write off a Kilkenny team managed by Cody, but this one certainly doesn’t carry the same fear factor as previous teams. Aura is gone, for now at least.
@Martin: Get away with what ?
@Now or Never: Still have limericks number
@Barry Dowling: the blatant dirt and hatchet men , referees fear of Cody . That’s all . Well documented by Loughnane
@Martin: Loughnane waffles a lot about kilkenny. Thats well “documented”
Very young fir this role but fair play to him a fine hurler