Gallagher’s Connacht debut

largely to freshen our squad and create competition that we want to have within the squad. People are getting opportunities but not everybody is taking them.”

First-half injuries to James Connolly and Eoin Griffin were followed by three more to Tiernan O’Halloran, Quinn Roux and Dominic Robertson-McCoy. They face a six-day turnaround before Munster arrive when the Guinness PRO14 resumes.

Connacht: T O’Halloran (C Kelleher 55); D Leader, B Aki, E Griffin (C Ronaldson 27), M Healy; J Carty, C Blade (K Marmion, 54); D Buckley (P McCabe 72), D Heffernan (S Delahunt, 54), D Robertson-McCoy (C Carey 43); Q Roux (C Gallagher 49), J Cannon; E McKeon, J Connolly (J Butler 2), E Masterson (capt).

Cillian Gallagher (left) in action for Connacht with Bundee Aki. Pic: Connacht Rugby.