Connacht v Lyon, Saturday, January 11, Dexcom Stadium (8pm)
Connacht face a tough task to maintain their top pool spot in the European Challenge Cup when they meet French side Lyon at the Dexcom Stadium on Saturday.
At least the duel can be considered a welcome distraction at the end of a week in which Mack Hansen was given a three-match ban for his criticism of referees and coach Mark Sexton’s announced his decision to move clubs.
Just a single point separates Connacht and Lyon, with the Irish side edging pool five by virtue of an extra bonus point. With similar ambitions in their respective domestic leagues, both teams also have their eyes on a possible Challenge Cup trophy.
Last season the two met for the first time in the Champions Cup in France, with the home side winning comfortably, 34-20.
Connacht will be aware of lessons learned from that occasion, not least about getting on the wrong side of the referee at scrum time. On that occasion they were also missing a handful of key players, and while the banned Hansen will be absent on Saturday, Bundee Aki, Finlay Bealham and Cathal Forde will be on duty.
Piers O’Conor and Aki form the midfield, which head coach Pete Wilkins believes is his most “dangerous centre pairing”. Former Sevens and Ireland under-20 Chay Mullins will be on the right wing, with Shane Jennings on the left. Santiago Cordero returns to fullback, having recently shown “the form of which he is capable”, according to Wilkins. Josh Ioane partners Ben Murphy at halfback.
Up front there is much-needed experience and muscle in Peter Dooley, Dave Heffernan and Bealham, with Oisín Dowling and Joe Joyce in the second row. The back row boasts both athleticism and strength, as it includes captain Cian Prendergast and New Zealanders Shamus Hurley-Langton and Sean Jansen.
Given Connacht’s current struggle in the URC, Wilkins admits the French side will pose a threat to their hopes of advancing in the European competition.
“It’s a big challenge, and we all have to be in on it. They’ve got an incredibly strong roster, and some of the firepower, particularly in the midfield and outside backs, is unbelievably threatening,” he says. “They’re a team that’s the best in the top four for successful offloads. They play with width. They look to put a bit of air on the ball. So it’s a big challenge in terms of shutting them down.”
Lyon’s form has notably improved recently with draws against Toulouse and Racing 92, as well as a win over USAP. In naming a strong side, they have signalled their ambition to use this competition as a pathway to more success. Their selection of Fijian Semi Radradra, New Zealander Fletcher Smith, French International Félix Lambey and Argentinian Tomas Lavanini suggests they are taking this fixture seriously, and will not make it easy for Connacht.
However, the home side has similar ambitions, with Wilkins saying his squad is “adamant and united” in its ambition to “go for it” in the Challenge Cup this year.
“Any time we play a French opponent, particularly here in Galway, we feel confident – obviously respecting the threat that’s coming, But we do feel confident, and we feel like we should be winning that game if we again fulfil our potential.”
Despite the news of Hansen’s ban and Sexton’s departure, Wilkins says it is “business as usual”.
“The games are so important, and come thick and fast, there has not been an option of it being a distraction, no one has allowed it to be. It is a positive the Mack situation is resolved now. We accept the verdict of the judiciary, and we’ll look to move on from that. It’s never dull, there is always something bubbling away, particularly at this time of the year.
“It’s great we have the game this weekend. It’s such a big challenge for us. We’ve got to be all-in, in terms of effort and focus.”
Connacht: S Cordero, C Mullins, P O’Conor, B Aki, S Jennings, J Ioane, B Murphy, P Dooley, D Heffernan, F Bealham, Ó Dowling, J Joyce, C Prendergast (C), S Hurley-Langton, S Jansen. Replacements: D Tierney-Martin, J Duggan, J Aungier, J Murphy, P Boyle, C Blade, C Forde, D Hawkshaw.
Lyon: A Tchaptchet, S Radradra, J Maraku, T Regard, V Rattez, F Smith, M Page-Relo, H Kaabeche, S Matavesi, I Aptsiauri, F Lambey (C), T Lavanini, S Blanc-Mappaz, M Okuya, M Gouzou. Replacements: G Marchand, L Pakihivatau, J Ainsley, K Geraci, P Pacheco, C Cassang, A Parisien, M Meliande.
Referee: Craig Evans (Wales).
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