Connacht team to face Cardiff named

• Four changes from side that beat Lyon 
• Murphy, Oliver, Boyle, Ralston coming into starting XV 
• JJ Hanrahan named on bench after over 8 months out 

Connacht head coach Pete Wilkins has named his side for tomorrow’s final EPCR Challenge Cup pool game against Cardiff at the Cardiff Arms Park (k/o 8.00pm). 

There are just four changes from the side that comprehensively beat Lyon last week. In the backline Byron Ralston starts on the wing, while in the pack there are starts for Josh Murphy, Conor Oliver and Paul Boyle. 

The experienced front row of Peter Dooley, Dave Heffernan and Finlay Bealham is unchanged, while Joe Joyce partners Murphy. Captain Cian Prendergast continues at blindside flanker, with Oliver on the opposite side and Boyle at number 8. 

The 9-10 pairing of Ben Murphy and Josh Ioane continues, as does the centre pairing of Bundee Aki and Piers O’Conor. Ralston is named on the left wing, with Chay Mullins on the opposite side and Santiago Cordero again at full-back. 

Among the changes on the bench is the welcome return of JJ Hanrahan. The out-half has fully recovered from the ACL injury he sustained against the Dragons last April, and will wear the #22 jersey in a 5:3 split on the bench. 

A home round of 16 tie is already confirmed, plus a home quarter-final if successful, but a win tomorrow would also secure a potential home semi-final. 

Head coach Pete Wilkins says: 

“Tomorrow is both an enormous opportunity and a massive challenge. To finish as one of the top 2 seeds would give us huge motivation for the rest of the competition, and I’ve no doubt we have the ability to get the result we need. We’re also conscious that Cardiff are a very tough, physical side who are strong at home and have their own motivations to win, so it should be a great contest.” 

CONNACHT RUGBY MATCHDAY 23 VS CARDIFF 
20:00, Friday 17th January 2025 @ Cardiff Arms Park  

Number/Name/Caps 

15. Santiago Cordero (14)
14. Chay Mullins (3)
13. Piers O’Conor (10)
12. Bundee Aki (145)
11. Byron Ralston (34)
10. Josh Ioane (7)
9. Ben Murphy (10)
1. Peter Dooley (45)
2. Dave Heffernan (208)
3. Finlay Bealham (212)
4. Josh Murphy (27)
5. Joe Joyce (28)
6. Cian Prendergast (78) (C)
7. Conor Oliver (92)
8. Paul Boyle (104)

16. Eoin de Buitléar (11)
17. Jordan Duggan (54)
18. Jack Aungier (76) 
19. David O’Connor (4)
20. Sean Jansen (15)
21. Matthew Devine (8)
22. JJ Hanrahan (19)
23. David Hawkshaw (38)