ANDY: LET’S START FAST
ANDY FRIEND will be hoping history repeats itself when Connacht take on Cardiff at the Arms Park today ( 7.35pm) in the opening round of the new United Rugby Championship.
The only time Connacht have played in the Welsh capital in the opening round was 20 years ago, when the Celtic League was launched.
On that occasion, they made a winning start to the new competition with a 6- 3 win in what was a slugfest.
Connacht coach Friend — heading into a fourth season at the Sportsground — would probably settle for a repeat of that outcome as they head to a city where they have only won twice in a decade.
Absentees
The 4G surface has been relaid at the Arms Park, and that will suit the fast type of game Friend is trying to develop, but he could have done without a hefty injury list.
The list of absentees leaves him light at scrum- half and in the second row, with Tongan international Leva Fifita forced to delay his debut with a finger injury, and Gavin Thornbury out for another few months with a shoulder issue.
Mack Hansen, signed from the Brumbies, will make his debut on the left wing, while Sligo Grammar School and Sligo RFC product
Hubert Gilvarry could make his bow off the bench at scrum- half, as new international Caolin Blade is injured along with former Irish Under20 Colm Reilly.
Alex Wootton, joint top try scorer in the league last year with nine, is out with a calf injury, so Connacht have a second Aussie winger in action in John Porch.
“We need a fast start,” said Friend. “And we have been guilty in the past three years in not getting the start we wanted. This is going to be a very tough game for us, but our intention is to start well.”
Rhys Priestand will make his Cardiff debut after being signed from Bath and is one of 11 internationals starting for Dai Young’s side, and new skipper Josh Turnbull says this is one they need to win.
“Four of our first five games of the season are at home, and that’s going to be massive for us,” said Turnbull. CONNACHT: T O’Halloran; J Porch, T Farrell, T Daly, M Hansen; J Carty, K Marmion; M Burke, S Delahunt, F Bealham; U Dillane, O Dowling; C Prendergast, C Oliver, J Butler. Reps: D Heffernan, J Duggan, D Robertson- McCoy, N Murray, P Boyle, H Gilvarry, C Fitzgerald, S Arnold.
CARDIFF: H Amos; O Lane, R Lee- Lo, W Halaholo, J Harries; R Priestland, L Williams; C Domachowski, K Myhill, D Arhip, S Davies, M Screech, J Turnbull, E Jenkins, J Ratti. Reps: L Belcher, R Carré, D Lewis, R Thornton, W Boyde, T Williams, J Evans, M Llewellyn. REFEREE: A Piardi (Italy).
TV: TG4 and Premier Sport.