Connacht v Edinburgh (Fri)

MAGNERS LEAGUE

Venue: Galway Sportsground Date: Friday, 2 April Kick-off: 1800 BST
Coverage: Score updates on BBC Sport website


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Callam returns to the starting line-up for Edinburgh
Scotland quartet Allan Jacobsen, Jim Hamilton, Ben Cairns and David Callam return to the Edinburgh line-up for Friday's visit to Connacht.

Prop Jacobsen comes back after his Six Nations exertions while lock Jim Hamilton returns from a back injury.

Cairns has recovered from a hamstring problem, while Callam replaces Ross Rennie, who is rested as he continues his phased comeback from knee surgery.

Edinburgh sit third in the Magners League, with the hosts at the bottom.

Connacht are without George Naoupu, Ray Ofisa, Liam Bibo and Keith Mathews through injury, while John Muldoon, Robbie Morris, Niva Ta'auso and Ronan Loughney will undergo fitness tests before the team is named.

Visiting head coach Rob Moffat admitted his selection for the game had been tricky, given his side's good form.

"There is so much competition for a lot of positions in the team, especially for the loosehead spot between Kyle (Traynor) and Chunk (Jacobsen)," he said.

"Chunk had a good Six Nations and we decided to give him a start for this one."

Edinburgh were 24-20 winners against Scarlets last weekend but Moffat was not happy that his side slackened off in the latter stages.

"We know that we didn't play particularly well last week and that we must improve against Connacht," he said.

"With four games left, we know that we control whether or not we will qualify for the play-offs.

"We are in a good position, but the really hard work starts now. Everybody knows that we must keep performing to a high standard and winning matches.

"We will have to be totally switched on for this game because Connacht have a proud home record and that has been established over a good number of years.

"They have beaten Leinster and Munster there in Galway and over the last two games they defeated Dragons and almost beat Leinster in Dublin."



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Connacht: tbc Their just not too sure yet....give them time they are a wee bit slow.

Edinburgh: J Thompson, M Robertson, B Cairns, J Houston, T Visser, P Godman, M Blair (captain), A Jacobsen, A Kelly, G Cross, S MacLeod, J Hamilton, A MacDonald, D Callam, R Grant.
Replacements: Ross Ford, Kyle Traynor, Steve Turnbull, Scott Newlands, Greig Laidlaw, David Blair, Simon Webster.

Connacht were unlucky last time out against Leinster, the visitors will need to be on their game to get their expected result!

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by ozhammy

Connacht were unlucky last time out against Leinster, the visitors will need to be on their game to get their expected result!

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You were right dammit. I didn't realise Connacht hadn't lost a game at home for 6 games, now 7.


Connacht 22-21 Edinburgh

Connacht (11) 22
Tries: Tuohy, Keatley Pens: Keatley (2), Nikora Drop: Keatley
Edinburgh (14) 21
Tries: Visser, Robertson, Grant Cons: Godman (3)



Edinburgh flanker David Callum tackles Connacht's Fionn Carr
Bottom side Connacht gained an exciting Magners League win over high-flying Edinburgh thanks to a late penalty by New Zealander Miah Nikora in Galway.

Edinburgh, with tries from wingers Tim Visser and Mark Robertson enjoyed a 14-11 interval advantage.

But fly-half Ian Keatley, who scored two penalties and a drop, grabbed an intercept try for the province.

Flanker Roddy Grant's converted try had Edinburgh 21-19 up but Nikora coolly stroked over the telling score.

It means Connacht extend their unbeaten home run to seven matches while Edinburgh have not won on the road in 2010.

Connacht, despite being without captain John Muldoon and powerful centre Niva Ta'auso, stormed into an 11-0 lead with winger Brian Tuohy getting a try.

Keatley, who had opened the scoring with a penalty, missed the conversion but then landed a lovely drop goal from distance.

Edinburgh, hoping to make the league play-offs, burst into life in the last 10 minutes of the half.

Their pressure was rewarded when Dutchman Visser broke through for his eighth try of the league campaign.

Then Edinburgh countered for their second try, switching play left and right before Robertson finished well.

Keatley left the Scots reeling, five minutes in, when he intercepted a pass on the 10-metre line and darted over for a try which he failed to convert.

Edinburgh hit back again as Grant crossed for a try which Godman converted.

At 21-19 up with 20 minutes remaining, Edinburgh were all set to finish the job but Connacht produced a dogged final quarter.

Their forwards built through the phases and won the crucial penalty which Nikora converted.



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Connacht: Duffy, Tuohy, Nathan, Wynne, Carr, Keatley, F. Murphy, Wilkinson, Cronin, Hagan, Swift, Upton, McCarthy, O'Connor, McComish.
Replacements: Nikora for Keatley (64), Loughney for Wilkinson (49), Browne for McComish (61).

Edinburgh: Thompson, Robertson, Cairns, Houston, Visser, Godman, M. Blair, Jacobsen, Kelly, G. Cross, MacLeod, J. Hamilton, MacDonald, Rennie, R. Grant.
Replacements: Laidlaw for M. Blair (66), Traynor for Jacobsen (66), Ford for Kelly (40), S. Turnbull for J. Hamilton (57).

Referee: Leighton Hodges (RFU).

Att: 2,000