Injuries force Bradley's Rovigo hand
Wed, 03 Dec 2008 20:05
Connacht coach Michael Bradley has made two injury-enforced changes to the side to take on Rovigo in the European Challenge Cup in Italy on Saturday.
Daniel Riordan comes into the backline for the injured Mel Deane, while in the forwards Andrew Browne has been drafted in for Colm Rigney, who has also been ruled out through injury.
Gavin Duffy will captain the side and moves to outside centre, while Fionn Carr reverting to fullback.
Others not considered due to injury include Liam Bibo (hamstring), Mel Deane (shoulder), Andy Dunne (knee), Joie Merrigan (knee), Conor Muldoon (hamstring), John Muldoon (knee), Colm Rigney (knee), Mike Roberts (calf), Niva Ta'auso (arm).
Both sides go into this Round Three clash with a win and a loss in this season's European Challenge Cup.
Saturday's clash will take place at Stadio Mario Battaglini in Rovigo with the Italian side coming to the Sportsground the following Friday.
Connacht will then conclude their European pool campaign after Christmas with a trip to London Irish and a home tie against Dax.
Connacht opened their campaign with a superb 30-12 win away to Dax in the opening round, but went down 10-27 to London Irish at the Sportsground next time out.
Rovigo were defeated 78-3 by London Irish at the Madejski Stadium in the first round, but recovered to defeat Dax 24-11 in Italy the following week.
Rovigo: 15 Stefan Basson, 14 Pablo Calanchini, 13 Juan Pablo Sanchez, 12 Norman di Maura, 11 Andrea Bacchetti, 10 German Bustos, 9 Juan Cruz Legora, 8 Jacobus Immelman, 7 Johan Britz, 6 Younes Anouer, 5 Marco Barion, 4 Tomasso Reato, 3 Juan Pablo Orlandi, 2 Valerio Vicere, 1 Bruno Fortuna.
Replacements: 16 Andrea de Marchi, 17 Luke Mahoney, 18 Daniele Tumiati, 19 Niccolò Badocchi, 20 Stefano Canale, 21 Stefano Ambrosio, 22 Filippo Aretusini.
Connacht:
15 Fionn Carr, 14 Troy Nathan, 13 Gavin Duffy (captain), 12 Keith Matthews, 11 Danny Riordan, 10 Ian Keatley, 9 Frank Murphy, 8 Ray Ofisa, 7 Jonny O'Connor, 6 Mike McCarthy, 5 Andrew Farley, 4 Andrew Browne, 3 Robbie Morris, 2 Sean Cronin, 1 Brett Wilkinson.
Replacements: 16 Adrian Flavin, 17 Ronan Loughney, 18 Michael Swift, 19 David Gannon, 20 Keith Campbell, 21 Tim Donnelly, 22 John Hearty.
Date: Saturday, December 6
Venue: Stadio Mario Battaglini, Rovigo
Kick-off: 15.00 (14.00 GMT)
Referee: TBC
