Changes as Mooney goes on Red alert
Tue, 26 Aug 2008 09:04
Reds coach Phil Mooney has made multiple changes for Tuesday's clash against Connacht as his side looks to secure its first victory on a four-match development tour of Ireland and France.
Mooney has opted to make changes for Tuesday's match at the Sportsground, despite his side turning in an encouraging display in their 24-0 loss to Ulster.
"We were definitely happy with the effort on Friday, considering the lack of preparation time we had and the young age of most of the players, but we made too many turnover mistakes," Mooney said.
"We certainly want to win games, but there are no competition points on offer here and it is about exposing the young guys to different environments.
"In saying that though, we want to see an improvement against Connacht, but I think the players know that themselves. I was happy to hear some of [the players] tell us that they felt the game was very quick.
"Compared to our Super 14 games it was not a fast game, but it was faster than the club games these young guys would be used to."
Despite some changes, the Reds have stuck with the experienced core of players they fielded against Ulster, with Van Humphries and Greg Holmes receiving praise from the coach.
Mooney has included the four players who saw no action against Ulster in the 22-man squad, meaning every member on tour will have match experience going into the third game against Irish powerhouse Leinster.
"After this game all the lads in the squad will have had a game under their belt and we will be in a better position for selection for the third game, which I think will be the hardest of the three," he said.
"It was not intentional to have Leinster as the third game, but it is good the way it has worked out."
As Magners League champions, Leinster represent the toughest challenge of the three Irish teams on the tour, but the Reds are not losing sight of the Connacht side they face on Tuesday in very different conditions to last Friday.
"It actually has been pretty windy here for training and if it is wet it will certainly be an interesting challenge for the lads," Mooney said.
"When you are playing in the Super 14 competition you encounter numerous different playing environments so if the weather is totally different to Friday then it will only add to what the players take from it.
"In terms of the actual Connacht team we are going to be playing on Tuesday I think they are going to be very physical and it should be another good test."
Reds: 15 Rod Davies, 14 Luke Morahan, 13 Morgan Turinui (captain), 12 Anthony Faingaa, 11 Aidan Toua, 10 Ben Gollings, 9 Will Genia, 8 Leroy Houston, 7 Poutusi Luafutu, 6 Scott Higginbotham, 5 Robert Simmons, 4 Van Humphries, 3 Jack Kennedy, 2 James Hanson, 1 Shon Seimonek.
Replacements: 16 Albert Anae, 17 Greg Holmes, 18 Adam Byrnes, 19 Jake Schatz, 20
Brendan McKibbin, 21 Jono Lance, 22 James Harvey.
Date: Tuesday, August 26
Venue: Sportsground, Galway
Kick-off: 19.30 (18.30 GMT)
Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon
