Connacht Rugby Supporters - Connacht hoping for Blue skies in HEC chase

Connacht hoping for Blue skies in HEC chase

By Sea_point May 2 2008
A big Galway Sportsground crowd will be hopeful that Connacht can build on their excellent result in Newport, which effectively re-ignited their hopes for Heineken Cup Rugby next season. With Ulster beating a Munster side showing 15 changes from the Heineken Cup semi-final win in Coventry on Sunday, Connacht need to win both their remaining home fixtures.

Connacht v Cardiff Blues

Venue: Sportsground

Date: Friday, 2 May

Kick-off: 1830 BST

Coverage details:

Radio: Galway Bay FM & http://www.magnersleague.com/live . TV: Setanta Ireland

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************* Please note that the ICRSC player of the season presentation is being held at O'Connells Bar in Eyre Square after the Cadiff game with a presentation being made to the winning player as selected by supporters, and also a draw for a prize for the nominators of the winning players..

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A big Galway Sportsground crowd will be hopeful that Connacht can build on their excellent result in Newport, which effectively re-ignited their hopes for Heineken Cup Rugby next season. With Ulster beating a Munster side showing 15 changes from the Heineken Cup semi-final win in Coventry on Sunday, Connacht need to win both their remaining home fixtures against Welsh sides Cardiff Blues & the Ospreys and hope that the Newport Gwent Dragons fail to secure any points from their remaing three fixtures.

Michael Bradley has made one change to his side ahead of the crucial Magners League showdown at the Sportsground on Froday against the Cardiff Blues with Robbie Morris returning at tighthead prop having missed the match against the Dragons.

There are also three changes among a very strong replacement bench as Connacht welcome back Samoan brothers Ofisa Treviranus and Ray Ofisa, who are both named in the match day 22 for the first time since December 16th having recovered from their respective injuries. And former England U21 international, Michael McCarthy is also recalled after four weeks out. McCarthy had been in a very rich vein of form prior to his injury.

Connacht have a number of players out injured; John Hearty (hip), John Lyne (hand), Brian McGovern (ankle), Joe Merrigan (ankle), Conor O'Loughlin (shoulder), Michael Swift (kidney), Aidan Wynne (hamstring) are all missing through injury.

For Cardiff, lock Deiniol Jones will become the first player to play 100 games for the Cardiff Blues at the Sportsground on Friday night.

Cardiff Blues director of rugby David Young praised Jones for his contribution to the Welsh region.

"I think it's a measure of the guy's durability, who is playing in the engine room of the team, to play so many games while carrying bumps and bruises," Young said.

"He has been playing at a high standard for us and especially over the past two seasons he has been an unsung hero.

"I was thrilled this year when he got the recognition he deserved with being called up into the Wales squad.

"He's been a big part of our performances up front this year. He's very underestimated as a player and it's only now he's getting the recognition for his play."

Xavier Rush returns from injury to lead the Blues in one of four changes.

Jason Spice replaces Richie Rees at scrum-half, Rhys Thomas starts at hooker and Scott Morgan at lock.

Form:

Connacht won in their most recent outing 13-11 against Newport Gwent Dragons but have not won successive matches in the Magners League since September 2006. Connacht are unbeaten at home in their last four matches against Welsh sides since the Llanelli Scarlets won in Galway on 15 September 2006.

Cardiff Blues have won their last three matches in the Magners League against Edinburgh, Scarlets and Ulster. The Blues have won four of their last five games against Irish teams.

Connacht have met the Blues on twelve previous occasions and been victorious three times with one draw:

Season	Date	Time	Home	For	-	Against	Away	Venue	TV/Att
2001-02	Sat 18 Aug	14:30	Cardiff Rugby	3	-	6	Connacht	Arms Park	4,000
2002-03	Fri 6 Sep	18:00	Connacht	23	-	22	Cardiff Rugby	Sportsground	2,500
2003-04	Sat 21 Feb	19:00	Connacht	18	-	21	Cardiff Blues	Dubarry Park	2,676
2003-04	Sat 13 Sep	17:30	Cardiff Blues	33	-	17	Connacht	Arms Park	3,500
2004-05	Sat 22 Jan	14:00	Connacht	10	-	18	Cardiff Blues	Sportsground	1,750
2004-05	Fri 24 Sep	19:35	Cardiff Blues	31	-	6	Connacht	Arms Park	3,867
2005-06	Sat 3 Sep	14:30	Connacht	13	-	9	Cardiff Blues	Sportsground	1,800
2005-06	Sat 29 Apr	17:30	Cardiff Blues	30	-	12	Connacht	Arms Park	6,423
2006-07	Sat 7 Apr	18:30	Connacht	16	-	16	Cardiff Blues	Sportsground	1,536
2006-07	Sat 18 Nov	17:30	Cardiff Blues	15	-	13	Connacht	Arms Park	4,309
2007-08	Fri 12 Oct	19:30	Cardiff Blues	30	-	16	Connacht	Arms Park	6,921
2007-08	Fri 2 May	18:30	Connacht		v		Cardiff Blues	Sportsground	Setanta

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Connacht: G Duffy; M Mostyn, M Deane, K Matthews, D Riordan; T Nathan, C McPhillips; B Wilkinson, A Flavin, R Morris; D Gannon, A Farley (capt); J Muldoon, J O'Connor, C Rigney.

Replacements: J Fogarty, R Loughney, M McCarthy, R Ofisa, R Shaw, A Dunne, O Treviranus.

Blues: Ben Blair; Jamie Roberts, Tom Shanklin, Gareth Thomas, Tom James; Nicky Robinson, Jason Spice; Gethin Jenkins, T Rhys Thomas, Taufa¿ao Filise, Deiniol Jones, Scott Morgan, Maama Molitika, Martyn Williams, Xavier Rush (capt).

Replacements: John Yapp, Gareth Williams, Bradley Davies, Ben White, Mark Lewis, Richie Rees, Dai Flanagan.

Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)

Touch judges: Eanna O'Dowd (Ireland), Seamus Flannery (Ireland)

TMO: Dermot Moloney (IRFU)

Assessor: Tom Aplin (Ireland)

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