Farrell set for first start of the season as Connacht travel to Ospreys

01 November 2019

Farrell set for first start of the season as Connacht travel to Ospreys
Connacht centre Tom Farrell is set for his first start of the Guinness PRO14 season as his side travel to Swansea to take on the Ospreys on Saturday (Kick off 5:15pm). Farrell is included following his two tries against the Cheetahs in The Sportsground last weekend.
 
Farrell and his midfield partner Peter Robb are included in a back line that also includes winger Niyi Adeolokun who finished the Cheetahs game as Man of the Match after scoring one try and setting up a second. He is part of a back three that includes John Porch on the opposite wing and Darragh Leader who has returned from injury to take his place at full back.
 
The impressive Conor Fitzgerald continues at out-half alongside Kieran Marmion who has scored three tries in the opening four games of the season.
 
In the pack, injury has forced Head Coach Andy Friend to make a number of changes for the trip to Wales. Dominic Robertson McCoy replaces Finlay Bealham at tighthead, while there is a new second row with Ultan Dillane and Joe Maksymiw coming in from the start.
 
There is a settled look about the back row, where Captain Jarrad Butler is named at openside with Eoghan Masterson at blindside and Paul Boyle at number 8.
 
Commenting ahead of the game, Connacht Head Coach Andy Friend said; “Our squad is in confident mood after three bonus point wins in a row. We have a few changes from the win over Cheetahs last weekend, but I am really happy with the depth we have in the squad and how we have performed so far”.
 
“Our win away to Dragons in Round Two was our first in Wales in a while so we will be looking to back that up with a win this weekend. Ospreys are a very competitive side especially when they are at home. We saw that last season when we played them over there, so we face a really tough test. We have Leinster and Montpellier coming up in the Sportsground over the next two weekends, so it is important for us to keep winning going into those games”.
 
 
Connacht Matchday Squad V Ospreys (Sat 2 NOV, 5.15PM)

(15-9): Darragh Leader, Niyi Adeolokun, Tom Farrell, Peter Robb, John Porch, Conor Fitzgerald, Kieran Marmion.
(1-8): Denis Buckley, Dave Heffernan, Dominic Robertson-McCoy, Ultan Dillane, Joe Maksymiw, Eoghan Masterson, Jarrad Butler (C), Paul Boyle.
Replacements: Jonny Murphy, Matthew Burke, Conor Kenny, Cillian Gallagher, Robin Copeland, Caolin Blade, Tom Daly, Stephen Fitzgerald.