The two teams will face each other at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh with kick-off at 3:00 pm.

Six Irish players are included in the starting XV – Iain Henderson, Tadhg Beirne, Jack Conan, Conor Murray, Bundee Aki and Robbie Henshaw. You can use your Coral Promo Code and back The Lions at 2/1 to win the tour in South Africa.

It is the highest amount of players in the XV from any of the four national teams of Ireland, England, Wales and Scotland.

Leinster prop Tadhg Furlong is on the bench, bringing the total of Irish players in the 23 to seven.

Tour Captain Alun Wyn Jones= takes the armband for the side’s first warm-up test.

Rory Sutherland and Zander Fagerson give a Scottish feel to the front row while the back row includes Beirne and Conan alongside Hamish Watson.

Conor Murray and Dan Biggar are the starting inside-back pairing with Irish centres Aki and Henshaw beside them.

Duhan Van Der Merwe, Josh Adams and Liam Williams round off the XV.

Furlong, Jamie George, Owen Farrell and Anthony Watson are among those on the bench.

The game will be available to watch on Channel 4 in Ireland and the UK with coverage starting at 2:15 pm.

British and Irish Lions 1888 Cup Squad

Backs

15. Liam Williams (Wales/Scarlets)

14. Josh Adams (Wales/Cardiff Blues)

13. Robbie Henshaw (Ireland/Leinster)

12. Bundee Aki (Ireland/Connacht)

11. Duhan Van Der Merwe (Scotland/Edinburgh)

10. Dan Biggar (Wales/Northampton Saints)

9. Conor Murray (Ireland/Munster)

Forwards

1. Rory Sutherland (Scotland/Edinburgh)
2. Ken Owens (Wales/Scarlets)
3. Zander Fagerson (Scotland/Glasgow Warriors)
4. Iain Henderson (Ireland/Ulster)
5. Alun Wyn Jones (Wales/Ospreys)
6. Tadhg Beirne (Ireland/Munster)
7. Hamish Watson (Scotland/Edinburgh)
8. Jack Conan (Ireland/Leinster)

Bench

16. Jamie George (England/Saracens)

17. Wyn Jones (Wales/Scarlets)

18. Tadhg Furlong (Ireland/Leinster)

19. Courtney Lawes (England/Northampton Saints)

20. Taulupe Faletau (Wales/Bath)

21. Ali Price (Scotland/Glasgow Warriors)

22. Owen Farrell (England/Saracens)

23. Anthony Watson (England/Bath)

Match Review

Chris Farrell opened Ireland’s account with a try after Yu Tamura’s early penalty. Japan responded when Michael Leitch touched down after the visitors mauled over for a try.

Stuart McCloskey then gave Ireland a 12-10 lead after Joey Carbery started an attack with a clever chip, but Japan continued to attack in waves and Timothy Lafaele got over after a free-flowing move.

Finlay Bealham responded for Ireland just before half-time with a try and they took a 19-17 lead into the break.

Siosaia Fifita was next to touch down after the break as Japan came out all guns blazing. It was tit-for-tat as Josh van der Flier then got an Ireland try to put Farrell’s men 26-24 ahead.

Jacob Stockdale was next to notch a try for Ireland but Japan rallied with a late try from Naoto Saito. A Joey Carbery penalty opened up an eight-point lead and Ireland held on for the win.

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Connacht 32 Cardiff 17

The Sportsground, Galway @ 7:35pm

Referee: Andrew Brace (IFRU)

A first-half brace of tries from Alex Wootton sent Connacht well on their way to their first home win since early December. The home side had been struggling to find their rhythm prior to his first searing score. However, after that they never looked back. He added a second three minutes later as a shellshocked Cardiff side went into the the dressing room at half time wondering how they were suddenly ten points in arrears. Cardiff did cut that gap to three points just after the hour mark. However, an immediate reposte from captain Jarrad Butler dispelled any notions the visitors had of a comeback. Abraham Papali’i bonus point try near the death was the icing on the cake for Andy Friend’s men.

Pre-match news

Dai Young was forced into late changes to his Cardiff side. 18-year-old Mason Grady had been named to make his first start for the club in yesterday’s team announcement. However, an uncertain COVID test return meant that both Grady and Ben Thomas were unable to travel. Harri Millard came in to the staring line-up, while Max Llewellyn and Dan Fish joined the replacements.

Connacht won the toss and chose to play from the college road end, towards the Bohermore end in the first-half. The strong southerly breeze was coming across the pitch and not particularly favouring either side.

Early action

Cardiff drove over for the games first try on 11 minutes. Rhys Carre was on the end of drive off the back of line out. Jason Tovey added the extras. Connacht responded four minutes later with three points from Jack Carty from an offside penalty.  The gap was reduced to a single point on 22 minutes, when Carty sent over a penalty from 18 yards straight in front of the posts. 

Just before the half hour Jason Tovey re-established a four point lead for the Blues after Connacht were pinged for not rolling away. 

Four minutes before the break Alex Wootton lit up the game. He found a gap in midfield after Ultan Dillane had made a powerful initial break. Wootton turned on the afterburners to carve trough the Cardiff reargaurd. He took an arcing run past the cover to speed in untouched for his ninth try of the season. Carty added a fine conversion from the lefthand side. 

Wotton repeated the trick just three minutes later. This time on the opposite side of the field. Jack Carty cleverly fed Wootton and once again he eased tru a gap to race clear over the cover from just outside the Cardiff 22. The conversion from Carty gave Andy Friend’s side a ten point lead at the interval.

Half-time: Connacht 20 Cardiff 10. 

Jason Tovey saw his penalty rebound off the post six minutes into the second-half. Cardiff had been awarded that after Bundee Aki was adjudged to be off his feet at the breakdown. Cardiff did add to their tally on 63 minutes when after a slick looped move off a line-out they recycled the ball from close in a mauled over for the score. Dan Fish who replaced Tovey five minutes earlier added the conversion to bring Cardiff back within three. 

Connacht responded to the Cardiff score within three minutes. A maul off a five yard lineout saw captain Jarrad Butler drive over. Carty failed to add the extra’s into the teeth of the wind. Substitute Abraham Papali’i rounded off a great night for the Homeside when he powered over for the bonus point score. Which came off a 5m scrum that was awarded when Reynold Lee-Lo carried the ball over his own line as he slid to gather a kick downfield from Connacht’s Tom Daly.  Carty’s conversion brought his personal tally to 12 points for the night.  

Pro14 standings

Munster still lead the way in Conference B. Their win away to fifth placed Edinburgh sees them top the table on 46 points. Connacht consolidate second place in the group as they move up to 37 points, while Scarlets leapfrog their Welsh neighbours Cardiff and climb to third after their 41-17 win over Treviso earlier today. 

Teams

Connacht: 15. John Porch, 14. Alex Wootton, 13. Tom Daly, 12. Bundee Aki, 11. Matt Healy, 10. Jack Carty, 9. Caolin Blade, 1. Jordan Duggan, 2. Dave Heffernan, 3. Finlay Bealham, 4. Ultan Dillane, 5. Gavin Thornbury, 6. Eoghan Masterson, 7. Jarrad Butler, 8. Paul Boyle. Replacements: Shane Delahunt for Heffernan 57’, Denis Buckley for Duggan 47’, Jack Angier for Bealham 57’, Oisin Dowling for Thornbury 47’, Abraham Papali’i for Boyle 72’, Kieran Marmion for Blade 57’, Sean J O’Brein,  Tiernan O’Halloran for Porch 65’. 

Cardiff: 15. Matthew Morgan, 14.Owen Lane, 13. Harri Millard, 12. Reynold Lee-Lo, 11. Aled Summerhill, 10. Jason Tovey, 9. Lloyd Williams, 1. Rhys Carre, 2. Liam Belcher, 3. Dimitri Arhip, 4. Seb Davies, 5. Rory Thornton, 6. Shane Lewis-Hughes, 7. Ellis Jenkins, 8.Josh Turnbull. Replacements: Kirby Myhill for Belcher 55’, Corey Domachowski for Carre 55’, Kieron Assiratti for Arhip 58’, Ben Murphy for Davies 65’, Gwilym Bradley, Jamie Hill, Max Llewellyn for Millard 55’, Dan Fish for Tovey 58’.

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Connacht v Cardiff

Saturday, February 20th 2021

The Sportsground, Galway @ 7:35 pm

Saturday night’s game at the Sportsground sees the home side looking to rediscover their home form. After four home defeats in a row, Andy Friend’s side will be looking to consolidate second-place in Conference B against the side immediately below them in the table.

Last time out

Connacht’s away from is in stark contrast to their recent troubles at home. A bonus point 20-30 win over the Dragons saw them take 5 points from their visit to Rodney Parade. Two tries in each half from Matt Healy, Abraham Papali’i, Caolin Blade and Tom Daly highlighted Connacht’s undoubted attacking threat. However, the concession of a hat-trick of tries to Dragons hooker Richard Hibbard will be a cause of concern for the Connacht defence. All three tries were a carbon copy of each other. For each of the scores, the Dragons set up a driving maul off a lineout and powered over. The legalities of the attacking side’s bind may have been questionable, but it was effective and the ease with which the Connacht defence was driven back will be of huge concern to the coaching staff.

Dai Young’s Cardiff enjoyed a narrow 10-13 win away to Scarlets last time out. However, that game was played on January 22nd, so this will be their first game in almost a month. They are likely to be without their contingent of Welsh national team players. This includes the impressive Willis Halaholo. The centre who has featured 76 times for the blues signed a new contract with the club yesterday.

Pro14 standings

Despite the probable changes in personnel due to Six Nations action, this is an important game for both coaches. It’s second v third in Conference B. Munster are on top of the pile after 11 rounds on 42 points, with Connacht (32 points) looking to close the gap. Both sides have a game in hand over third-placed Cardiff (26), while Scarlets have a return of 25 points from 12 matches in the fourth European qualification spot.

For complete Conference A & B tables click here

Injury news

Connacht were dealt a blow during the week when it was announced that Quinn Roux will need shoulder surgery. The South African born, Irish international is likely to be out of action for three months. Centre Peter Robb is also set for a spell on the sidelines. He will go under the knife this week due to an abdomen injury sustained against the Dragons last time out. Sean O’Brien and Conor Dean are also ruled out after picking up knocks while in action for the Connacht Eagles against Munster ‘A’ at the Sportsground last Friday. Ben O’Donnell is continuing return to play protocols after a HIA against Dragons.

Long-term absentees Sammy Arnold, Tom Farrell, Stephen Fitzgerald and Cillian Gallagher continue to work their way back to fitness.

Previous meetings

Cardiff ran out convincing 29-7 winners when the sides last met in round 2, back in October. Their last meeting at the Sportsground was just over a year ago. Connacht blitzed their opponents 29-0 in a one-sided game on the 15th February 2020.

Team News

The reduction of Andy Farrell Irish to 24 saw Bundee Aki, Dave Heffernan and Ultan Dillane back to the Connacht training squad. Aki and Heffernan both trained on Monday and Dillane joined the group on Tuesday. As a result, all three have been named to start Saturday’s game. Dillane’s release back to Connacht is particularly timely given Quinn Roux’s long term injury. The Tralee man will partner Gavin Thornbury in the second row.

In the back row team captain, Jarrad Butler returns to the starting line-up alongside Eoghan Masterson and Paul Boyle. The pack is rounded out by a front row of Jordan Duggan, Heffernan and Finlay Bealham.

Caolin Blade and Jack Carty continue their half-back pairing. Expect Kieran Marmion to feature off the bench from about the 50-minute mark. Bundee Aki slots in alongside the in-form Tom Daly in the centre pairing. While Matt Healy. Alex Wootton and John Porch round out the backs.

Cardiff are strengthened by the release of prop Rhys Carre and scrum-half Lloyd Williams from the Welsh squad. While in the back row, Ellis Jenkins is set for his first start in over two years after a prolonged spell on the sidelines. Dai Young has handed a debut to 18-year-old centre Mason Grady.

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Munster won the last two meetings against the Blues and will hope to maintain that good recent record tonight. Johann van Graan has made nine changes to the side that defeated Edinburgh 25-23 in Limerick in Round 2.

Billy Holland will make his seasonal appearance for this Round 3 clash with the Corkman captaining the team. Holland will be partnered in the second row by Fineen Wycherley as Munster aim to maintain their unbeaten start to the season.

A new-look front row sees James Cronin, Kevin O’Byrne and Stephen Archer named by the South African-born Head Coach.

Munster Rugby Academy player John Hodnett is chosen at openside with Gavin Coombes named at number eight. Waterford’s Jack O’Donoghue remains on the blindside flank.

Recent Munster hero Ben Healy named

Craig Casey and Munster Rugby Academy out half Ben Healy remain as the half back pairing. Healy has been the hero in both of Munster’s games this season. Firstly, his late kick gave the southern province a 30-27 win over the Scarlets in Round 1. Then, he converted CJ Stander’s late try against Edinburgh in their Round 2 clash.

Dan Goggin is named in midfield alongside Rory Scannell. Darren Sweetnam and Calvin Nash are chosen on the wings, with Mike Haley named at fullback.

In the replacements, Munster Rugby Academy prop Josh Wycherley, younger brother of Fineen, looks set to make his senior debut. He is joined on the bench by the experience of Rhys Marshall, Jean Kleyn, Chris Cloete and JJ Hanrahan amongst others.

Munster Rugby team:
15. Mike Haley, 14. Calvin Nash, 13. Dan Goggin, 12. Rory Scannell, 11. Darren Sweetnam, 10. Ben Healy, 9. Craig Casey.

1. James Cronin, 2. Kevin O’Byrne, 3. Stephen Archer, 4. Fineen Wycherley, 5. Billy Holland (captain), 6. Jack O’Donoghue, 7. John Hodnett, 8. Gavin Coombes.

Munster Rugby replacements:
16. Rhys Marshall, 17. Josh Wycherley, 18. Roman Salanoa, 19. Jean Kleyn, 20. Chris Cloete, 21. Nick McCarthy, 22. JJ Hanrahan, 23. Damian de Allende.

Players not considered for selection

Peter O’Mahony wasn’t considered for the game as he was involved in Ireland’s win over Italy on Saturday. Joey Carbery continues to suffer from an ankle injury. Neil Cronin and Keith Earls miss out with knee and back problems respectively.

Speaking ahead of tonight’s game, Munster Rugby Senior Coach Stephen Larkham said:

“If you look at our run of games coming up, this will be our best preparation for a while. We’ll have 16 games in a row now. We had a couple of days off last week and had really good prep for this as we had a proper seven-day turnaround.

“It’s all part of the environment that we live in now, and adapting to different situations.”

The game kicks off at 8.15pm, with TV coverage beginning on eir sport at 7.45pm and TG4 at 7.50pm.

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