Rotating Connacht see Reds
Sun, 24 Aug 2008 22:27
Connacht coach Michael Bradley is expecting to make liberal use of a rotation policy when his team faces the Australian Super 14 outfit the Reds in their final pre-season friendly at the Sportsground on Tuesday.
Liam Bibo, Michael Roberts and Robbie Morris have all been passed fit to play since picking up injuries against Harlequins just over a week ago and are included in the squad.
With such a short turn around between matches, since last Friday's game against London Welsh, Bradley made it clear he will rotate many of the side which played against the English club - as he bids to give as many of his players as much game time as possible before the start of the new Magners League season.
With Tuesday's game set to be the first ever meeting between Connacht and the Reds, Bradley sees the game as a great spectacle for supporters of the province.
"It's a good opportunity to see probable Australian internationals and definitely the future Reds side for the Super 14 for the following five or six years," he said.
"They'll have very exciting players on show at the Sportsground on Tuesday and we're looking forward to game immensely."
Connacht squad: Liam Bibo, Kieran Campbell, Fionn Carr, Sean Cronin, Gavin Duffy, Andrew Farley, Ian Keatley, Ronan Loughney, John Lyne, Keith Matthews, Michael McCarthy, Brian McGovern, Joe Merrigan, Robbie Morris, Conor Muldoon, John Muldoon, Frank Murphy, Troy Nathan, John O'Connor, Ray Ofisa, Colm Rigney, Michael Roberts, Michael Swift, Brett Wilkinson, Aidan Wynne.
Date: Tuesday, August 26
Venue: Sportsground, Galway
Kick-off: 19.30 (18.30 GMT)
