Pro12: Connacht aiming high

 

Ospreys currently sit top of the table with six wins from six but Connacht have also started the season strongly, suffering just one league loss – a 39-21 defeat to Glasgow Warriors in Round Four.

 

However, the Irish side travel to Swansea in the knowledge that they haven't registered a league win over the Ospreys in Wales since the 2004-05 season – when they edged a low-scoring affair 10-9.

 

But prop Loughney says Connacht would rather focus on the present than the past and their ability to turn what were previously near-misses into victories so far this season will make all the difference. 

 

"Last year we picked up a lot of losing bonus points but some of the stuff we're doing this year means we've progressed and we're getting over the line," he said.

 

"Preparation is the big thing – Pat Lam places a massive emphasis on ticking every box before we get to the game.

 

"It has probably gone to another level this year in regards to clarity of your role and preparation for the game – we focus on the process beforehand.

 

"When you dot all the 'I's' before the game it makes the matches a lot easier and you see the outcome of it with us getting tight games over the line.

 

"Also, a more ruthless mentality has helped us get a couple of wins on the board.

 

"But Friday is a massive game – it's always tough against Ospreys in Wales and they are a quality side. So, we'll have to be on the ball to get the win."

 

Connacht picked up seven losing bonus points in the PRO12 last year on their way to finishing tenth but four wins out of six this time around has them sitting in fifth position.

 

According to Loughney, who made his Ireland debut in 2012, part of the reason for that is the improved depth at the club.

 

At the prop position alone, Loughney is in a battle with the likes of Rodney Ah You, Nathan White and Denis Buckley for playing time but the 29-year-old believes that competition can only be a good thing.

 

"The front row is a real strength of ours, which is great – you know if you're not performing then someone else is going to step up and take your place," added Loughney.

 

"I think not just the front row but we have real depth in the pack this year – as the year goes on and you get niggles and injuries it can make a massive difference to the team to have experienced, quality players to bring in or rotate.

 

"It's a great position for us to be in and that kind of depth is something we maybe haven't had in the past."

 

 

 

Leinster v Edinburgh

 

 

Leinster: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Darragh Fanning, 13 Ben Te'o, 12 Noel Reid, 11 Luke Fitzgerald, 10 Jimmy Gopperth, 9 Luke McGrath, 8 Jack Conan, 7 Dominic Ryan, 6 Kevin McLaughlin (captain), 5 Kane Douglas, 4 Tom Denton, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Richardt Strauss, 1 Michael Bent.

Replacements: 16 Bryan Byrne, 17 Ed Byrne, 18 Peter Dooley, 19 Ben Marshall, 20 Dan Leavy, 21 Isaac Boss, 22 Steve Crosbie, 23 Mick McGrath.

 

Edinburgh: 15 Nick McLennan, 14 Dougie Fife, 13 Joaquin Dominguez, 12 Andries Strauss (captain), 11 Tim Visser, 10 Tom Heathcote, 9 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, 8 David Denton, 7 Tomas Leonardi, 6 Magnus Bradbury, 5 Jack Turley, 4 Ben Toolie, 3 Willem Nel, 2 James Hilterbrand, 1 Allan Dell.

Replacements: 16 Jake Kerr, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 John Andres, 19 Jamie Ritchie, 20 George Turner, 21 Sean Kennedy, 22 Greig Tonks, 23 Jack Cuthbert.

 

Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)

Assistant Referees: David Wilkinson (Ireland), Stuart Douglas (Ireland)

TMO: Kevin Beggs (Ireland)

 

 

 

Glasgow Warriors: 15 Peter Murchie, 14 Lee Jones, 13 Richie Vernon, 12 James Downey, 11 DTH van der Merwe, 10 Peter Horne, 9 Niko Matawalu, 8 Ryan Wilson, 7 Chris Fusaro, 6 Joshua Strauss (captain), 5 Leone Nakarawa, 4 Tom Ryder, 3 Rossouw de Klerk, 2 Pat MacArthur, 1 Ryan Grant.

Replacements: 16 Dougie Hall, 17 Alex Allan, 18 Zander Fagerson, 19 James Eddie, 20 Will Bordill, 21 Murray McConnell, 22 Connor Braid, 23 Rory Hughes.

 

Treviso: 15 Jayden Hayward, 14 Simone Ragusi, 13 Michele Campagnaro, 12 Enrico Bacchin, 11 Ludovico Nitoglia, 10 Sam Christie, 9 Alberto Lucchese, 8 Francesco Minto, 7 Alessandro Zanni (captain), 6 Simone Favaro, 5 Corniel Van Zyl, 4 Tomas Vallejos, 3 Salesi Manu, 2 Davide Giazzon, 1 Matteo Zanusso.

Replacements: 16 Amar Kudin, 17 Albert Anae, 18 Rupert Harden, 19 Mat Luamanu, 20 Marco Lazzaroni, 21 Marco Barbini, 22 Luca Morisi, 23 James Ambrosini.

 

Referee: Ian Davies

Assistant Referees: Neil Paterson, Lloyd Linton

 

 

 

Ospreys: 15 Dan Evans, 14 Jeff Hassler, 13 Andrew Bishop, 12 Josh Matavesi, 11 Tom Grabham, 10 Sam Davies, 9 Martin Roberts, 8 Ieuan Jones, 7 Justin Tipuric, 6 Sam Lewis, 5 Rynier Bernardo, 4 Lloyd Peers (captain), 3 Aaron Jarvis, 2 Sam Parry, 1 Duncan Jones.

Replacements: 16 Scott Otten, 17 Marc, Thomas, 18 Dmitri Arhip, 19 Rory Thornton, 20 Jordan Collier, 21 Tom Habberfield, 22 Ashley Beck, 23 Aisea Natoga.

 

Connacht: 15 Shane Layden, 14 Niyi Adeolokun, 13 Bundee Aki, 12 Craig Ronaldson, 11 Matt Healy, 10 Jack Carty, 9 Kieran Marmion, 8 George Naoupu, 7 Eoin McKeon, 6 John Muldoon (captain), 5 Quinn Roux, 4 Mick Kearney, 3 Rodney Ah You, 2 Jason Harris-Wright, 1 Denis Buckley.

Replacements: 16 Dave Heffernan, 17 Jamie Dever, 18 JP Cooney, 19 Andrew Browne, 20 Willie Faloon, 21 Ian Porter, 22 Dave McSharry, 23 Darragh Leader.

 

Referee: John Lacey

Assistant Referees: Ben Whitehouse, Martyn Lewis

TMO: Paul Adams

 

 

Cardiff Blues v Munster

 

 

Cardiff Blues: TBC

 

Munster: TBC

 

 

 

Scarlets: TBC

 

Zebre: TBC

 

 

 

Ulster: TBC

 

Dragons: TBC