Caolin Blade returns for Connacht’s clash with Benetton

Colin Newboult
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Caolin Blade of Connacht with the ball during the Guinness PRO14 Round 10 match between Leinster Rugby and Connacht Rugby at RDS Arena in Dublin, Ireland on January 4, 2020 (Photo by Andrew SURMA / SIPA USA).

Connacht head coach Andy Friend has named his side to face Benetton in the PRO14 on Friday, making just one change to the team that was originally due to play Ospreys last week.

That game was postponed due to a COVID-19 case in the Welsh club, and the management have opted to stick with most of that same matchday 23, with some players looking to pick up some game time before a hectic period of Champions Cup and Christmas interpros.

The one change is at scrum-half where Caolin Blade has recovered from a recent hamstring injury to start his first game since late October, with Colm Reilly named among the replacements.

Number eight handed captaincy chance

Paul Boyle is named as captain and will again get an opportunity to lead out the side for the first time – he’s at number eight with flankers Sean O’Brien and Conor Oliver alongside him in the back-row.

Denis Buckley, Shane Delahunt and Jack Aungier make up the front-row, while locks Eoghan Masterson and Gavin Thornbury complete the pack.

Conor Fitzgerald partners Blade at half-back, with Tom Daly and Sammy Arnold named at centre and Alex Wootton, Peter Sullivan and John Porch completing the side as the back three.

Among the replacements are Ultan Dillane who has been released from international duty, and Academy player Sean O’Brien who’ll get another chance to make his debut.

Meanwhile, Benetton boss Kieran Crowley has named his team for Friday’s encounter where they will be without 12 players who are on Italy duty.

The back three is made up of Jayden Hayward at full-back and wings Ratuva Tavuyara and Tommaso Menoncello.

In the centres are Ian Keatley, who is moved from his usual fly-half position, and Tommaso Benvenuti. At pivot is captain Dewaldt Duvenage, with Callum Braley taking the scrum-half slot.

The scrum is led by props Nicola Quaglio and Filippo Alongi, with hooker Tomas Baravalle, while the engine room sees Irné Herbst and Federico Ruzza selected.

The pack is completed by flankers Giovanni Pettinelli and Marco Barbini, and number eight Toa Halafihi, who returns after suffering an elbow problem.

The teams:

Connacht: 15 John Porch, 14 Peter Sullivan, 13 Sammy Arnold, 12 Tom Daly, 11 Alex Wootton, 10 Conor Fitzgerald, 9 Caolin Blade, 8 Paul Boyle (c), 7 Conor Oliver, 6 Sean O’Brien, 5 Gavin Thornbury, 4 Eoghan Masterson, 3 Jack Aungier, 2 Shane Delahunt, 1 Denis Buckley
Replacements: 16 Jonny Murphy, 17 Paddy McAllister, 18 Dominic Robertson-McCoy, 19 Ultan Dillane, 20 Jarrad Butler, 21 Colm Reilly, 22 Sean O’Brien, 23 Matt Healy

Benetton: 15 Jayden Hayward, 14 Ratuva Tavuyara, 13 Tommaso Benvenuti, 12 Ian Keatley, 11 Tommaso Menoncello, 10 Dewaldt Duvenage (c), 9 Callum Braley, 8 Toa Halafihi, 7 Marco Barbini, 6 Giovanni Pettinelli, 5 Federico Ruzza, 4 Irné Herbst, 3 Filippo Alongi, 2 Tomas Baravalle, 1 Nicola Quaglio
Replacements: 16 Giacomo Nicotera, 17 Ivan Nemer, 18 Tiziano Pasquali, 19 Riccardo Favretto, 20 Alberto Sgarbi, 21 Manuel Zuliani, 22 Luca Petrozzi, 23 Joaquin Riera

Venue: The Sportsground
Kick-off: 19:35 GMT
Referee: Adam Jones (Wales)
Assistant referees: Rob O’Sullivan (Ireland), Eoghan Cross (Ireland)
TMO: Joy Neville (Ireland)

Benetton Treviso