Connacht name team for Kings visit

Cape Town - Irish side Connacht have named their team for Saturday's PRO14 clash against the Southern Kings at the Sportsgorund (kick-off 20:35 SA time).

Fullback Tiernan O’Halloran returns to action for Connacht in a side that sees three changes from the starting XV that lost 18-12 at home to Glasgow Warriors last week.

Inside centre Tom Farrell and flanker Sean O’Brien are also included in the starting XV, with Eoin Griffin and Eoghan Masterson taking their places among the replacements. In a positional switch, Darragh Leader moves from fullback to the wing as O’Halloran returns.

Commenting ahead of the game, head coach Kieran Keane told Connacht’s official website: “Tiernan returned to full training in the past week and we are very happy with his progress so he starts at full back. The Kings have a good few changes in personnel from their time in Super Rugby but I expect their style of play to remain the same. We are expecting a tough physical game and some exciting rugby on Saturday and our guys are going to have to be ready for that”.

Teams:

Connacht

15 Tiernan O’Halloran, 14 Darragh Leader, 13 Tom Farrell, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Matt Healy, 10 Jack Carty, 9 Kieran Marmion, 8 John Muldoon, 7 Jarrad Butler, 6 Sean O’Brien, 5 James Cannon, 4 Ultan Dillane, 3 Finlay Bealham, 2 Tom McCartney, 1 Denis Buckley

Substitutes: 16 Dave Heffernan, 17 Denis Coulson, 18 Conor Carey, 19 Quinn Roux, 20 Eoghan Masterson, 21 Caolin Blade, 22 Steve Crosbie, 23 Eoin Griffin

Kings

15 Masixole Banda, 14 Yaw Penxe, 13 Berton Klaasen, 12 Luzuko Vulindlu, 11 Sibusiso Sithole, 10 Kurt Coleman, 9 Godlen Masimla, 8 Andisa Ntsila, 7 Victor Sekekete, 6 Khaya Majola, 5 Dries van Schalkwyk, 4 Jurie van Vuuren, 3 Rossouw de Klerk, 2 Michael Willemse (captain), 1 Schalk Ferreira

Substitutes: 16 Stephan Coetzee, 17 Luvuyo Pupuma, 18 Entienne Swanepoel/Martin Dreyer, 19 Bobby de Wee, 20 Siyabulela Mdaka, 21 Rudi van Rooyen, 22 Oliver Zono, 23. Jacques Nel