FRIEND HOPING GAMBLE PAYS OFF

CONNACHT coach Andy Friend is targeting next Friday’s crunch Pro14 clash away to Ospreys as a key game in their quest for Champions Cup qualification. Friend rotated his squad and gave debuts to four players over the past two weekends in the Challenge Cup to keep as much firepower for the trip to Wales as possible. They battled well for half of Saturday’s clash at AJ Bell Stadium but a combination of cheap turnovers and the finishing power of Sale’s hat-trick debutant Chris Ashton put paid to them. The decision to rest Ireland internationals Bundee Aki and Quinn Roux, captain Jarrad Butler and outhalf Jack Carty, showed that Friday’s game in Bridgend is being viewed as a season game-changer with one of their main rivals for a Champions Cup spot. ‘It’s a really big one for us,’ said Friend (above). ‘We have a sixday turnaround and we are fully aware of what that contest and what the challenges are going to be. ‘But we have a few boys at home we didn’t play today. It’s a crucial game for us and one we are very keen to win. ‘A few blokes have really put their hands up and proven to us and to themselves they are capable of playing at this level. So it’s good to have more depth there in the squad. ‘I thought Conor Fitzgerald did very well for his first start and only his second game of pro rugby. Colm de Buitléar also did well and Mattie Burke had his first run and was strong in the scrum. David Horwitz also had his first run so there are opportunities for us but at the same time that’s not a reason we should be giving up those games. We have got to make sure we are better than that.’