CONNACHT HEAD COACH Andy Friend has made two changes for Saturday\u2019s crucial Guinness Pro14 clash against Cardiff Blues in Galway, with Bundee Aki and Paul Boyle returning to the starting XV.<\/p>\n
Aki resumes his midfield partnership with Tom Farrell after sitting out last weekend\u2019s victory over Zebre, while Boyle comes into the back row in place of Eoin McKeon.<\/p>\n
Bundee Aki starts for Connacht against Cardiff tomorrow. Source: Laszlo Geczo\/INPHO<\/p>\n
Connacht, sitting in third place in Conference A, can secure a Pro14 play-off berth, and a place in next season\u2019s Heineken Champions Cup, with victory over the Blues at the Sportsground [KO 3pm, TG4\/Premier Sports].<\/p>\n
The province this morning confirmed tomorrow\u2019s round 20 showdown is now officially a sell-out, as Friend\u2019s men bid to progress through to the knockout stages for the first time since they won the Pro14 title in 2016.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
While Quinn Roux is unavailable through illness and Finlay Bealham is sidelined with a finger injury, Connacht are otherwise at full-strength for a season-defining game.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
There is a familiar look to the backline with Tiernan O\u2019Halloran named at fullback, Darragh Leader and Matt Healy selected on the wings, and Jack Carty and Caolin Blade continuing their half-back partnership.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kieran Marmion has to settle for a place on the bench.<\/p>\n
Boyle\u2019s selection at blindside sees him come into a back row with openside Colby Fainga\u2019a and captain Jarrad Butler at number eight, while the front five remain unchanged from last week.<\/p>\n
Props Denis Buckley and Dominic Robertson-McCoy line up in the front row alongside hooker Dave Heffernan, while Ultan Dillane and Gavin Thornbury continue in the second row.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Marmion is joined on the bench by, among others, Robin Copeland, Tom Daly and Cian Kelleher as Connacht look to get the job done and book their place at the top table of European rugby again next season.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe stakes are really high but our destiny remains in our own hands,\u201d Friend said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we perform on Saturday and can win the game we can secure that play-off on Saturday night and ensure a Champions Cup spot, which would be brilliant.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know what we need to do to get a result. We must make sure we are nice and direct, that we control the football when we have it, and when we don\u2019t, we get don\u2019t give them easy yardage.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Connacht:\u00a0<\/p>\n
15. Tiernan O\u2019Halloran
14. Darragh Leader
13. Tom Farrell
12. Bundee Aki
11. Matt Healy
10. Jack Carty
9. Caolin Blade<\/p>\n
1. Denis Buckley
2. Dave Heffernan
3. Dominic Robertson-McCoy
4. Ultan Dillane
5. Gavin Thornbury
6. Paul Boyle
7. Colby Fainga\u2019a
8. Jarrad Butler (captain).<\/p>\n
Replacements:\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n 16. Shane Delahunt Cardiff Blues:<\/p>\n 15. Matthew Morgan 1. Rhys Gill Replacements: <\/em><\/p>\n 16. Liam Belcher Gavan Casey and Murray Kinsella are joined by Bernard Jackman to discuss Izzy Folau\u2019s impending sacking by Australia and all the week\u2019s news on the latest episode of The42 Rugby Weekly:<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Source: The42 Rugby Weekly\/SoundCloud<\/p>\n Subscribe to our new podcast, The42 Rugby Weekly, here:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \n
17. Matthew Burke
18. Conor Carey
19. James Cannon
20. Robin Copeland
21. Kieran Marmion
22. Tom Daly
23. Cian Kelleher.\u00a0<\/p>\n
14. Owen Lane
13. Rey Lee-Lo
12. Willis Halaholo
11. Jason Harries
10. Gareth Anscombe (captain)
9. Tomos Williams<\/p>\n
2. Ethan Lewis
3. Dillon Lewis
4. George Earle
5. Rory Thornton
6. Josh Turnbull
7. Olly Robinson
8. Seb Davies.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
17. Rhys Carre
18. Dmitri Arhip
19. Shane Lewis-Hughes
20. James Botham
21. Lloyd Williams
22. Jarrod Evans
23. Garyn Smith.\u00a0<\/p>\n