Preview: Connacht v Ospreys

Three players will make their competitive debuts for Connacht when they open their Magners League campaign against the Ospreys on Friday.

Three players will make their competitive debuts for Connacht when they open their Magners League campaign against the Ospreys on Friday.

Brian Tuohy will start on the right-wing, Bernie Upton is in the second row and Mike McComish is selected at number eight for the opening game of the season.

Two more new players, prop Jamie Hagan and out-half Miah Nikora are included among the replacements.

Meanwhile, Barry Davies and Jerry Collins make their competitive debuts for the Ospreys after signing for the region in the close season, as will Tom Isaacs if he comes off the bench.

Mike Phillips starts despite having played a key role in the Lions tour of South Africa which finished not nine weeks ago. James Hook, who also toured, is braced for a run off the bench.

“After the hard work of pre-season, and some good performances and results in our two fixtures against Guinness Premiership opposition, everybody at the Ospreys is looking forward to starting the real business of the Magners League this Friday,” said Head Coach Sean Holley.

“We realise that we aren't the finished article at this moment and that we need to keep working and improving week-on-week, but spirits are good in the camp after a good pre-season and we are raring to go.

“Our first opponents Connacht are really tough customers, and will provide a real test for us. They've certainly improved their style of play in the last year or two. Michael Bradley has had them for a long time now and he's moved his squad in a slightly different direction.

“The Sportsground isn't an easy place to play, but having said that, when you look down our squad sheet for the weekend, we're in good shape. We've got a squad that is pretty healthy compared to last season, with some additions.

“We've had a great pre-season, I'd go as far as to say the best in the seven years that I've been at the Ospreys now, it's been hard work and it's been enjoyable. There's an air of determination around, so we've got to be confident going there.”

Form: Connacht kick off the season with a home game at the Sportsground for the 6th time in the last seven seasons. Connacht lost their last four Magners League matches of 2008/09 and gained just one victory over a Welsh Region last season: 39-17 at home to the Dragons in April. Ospreys have lost just once in their first Magners League game of a new season in the last six years: 15-17 at the Blues in 2007. Ospreys have lost on three of their last four visits to Ireland in all competitions. This game is a repeat of last season's round one encounter in Galway which was won 16-3 by the Welshmen. Connacht have won just one of their last five meetings with Ospreys: 24-20 at the Sportsground in May 2008.

Connacht: 15 Gavin Duffy, 14 Brian Tuohy, 13 Niva Ta'auso, 12 Keith Matthews, 11 Fionn Carr, 10 Ian Keatley, 9 Frank Murphy, 8 Mike McComish, 7 Ray Ofisa, 6 John Muldoon (C), 5 Bernie Upton, 4 Andrew Browne, 3 Robbie Morris, 2 Sean Cronin, 1 Brett Wilkinson.
Replacements: 16 Adrian Flavin, 17 Jamie Hagan, 18 Michael Swift, 19 Jonny O'Connor, 20 Conor O'Loughlin, 21 Miah Nikora, 22 Troy Nathan.

Ospreys: 15 Barry Davies, 14 Jonny Vaughton, 13 Sonny Parker, 12 Andrew Bishop, 11 Nikki Walker, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Mike Phillips, 8 Ryan Jones (c), 7 Marty Holah , 6 Jerry Collins, 5 Andy Lloyd, 4 Ian Gough, 3 Cai Griffiths, 2 Richard Hibbard, 1 Duncan Jones.
Replacements: 16 Huw Bennett, 17 Paul James, 18 Tom Smith, 19 Filo Tiatia, 20 Tom Isaacs, 21 James Hook, 22 Jonathan Spratt.

Date: Friday, September 4
Venue: Galway Sportsground
Kick-off: 19:00 BST
Referee: Graham Knox (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Peter Haycock (Ireland), Brian MacNeice (Ireland)
Assessor: John Sheehan (Ireland)