Connacht receive triple boost for Glasgow clash
Ireland lock Darragh Murray has overcome a rib injury to start in Connacht’s United Rugby Championship quarter-final with Glasgow Warriors at Scotstoun on Friday.
It was touch-and-go as to whether the three-cap 24-year-old would make it for the play-off fixture, but he has been passed fit alongside fellow Ireland international Dave Heffernan.
The hooker has shaken off a calf injury to start on the bench for Connacht, as they take on the table toppers.
The final injury boost to Stuart Lancaster’s side sees Dylan Tierney-Martin start at hooker.
No.8 Sean Jansen has been unable to recover from a knee injury, however, and has missed out on the XV, while a hamstring injury has ruled out centre Harry West.
“This is exactly where we wanted to be at the start of the season, so credit must go to all the players for what they’ve displayed in the last few months to get us to this position,” Lancaster said.
“Now we have to go out there and seize the opportunity. Glasgow are a formidable opponent especially away from home, with an array of talented players who are very well coached, but we are excited by the challenge ahead of us.”
Connacht XV: Sam Gilbert; Shane Jennings, John Devine, Bundee Aki, Shayne Bolton; Josh Ioane, Ben Murphy; Billy Bohan, Dylan Tierney-Martin, Sam Illo, Josh Murphy, Darragh Murray, Cian Prendergast (c), Shamus Hurley-Langton, Paul Boyle.
Replacements: Dave Heffernan, Peter Dooley, Finlay Bealham, Joe Joyce, Sean O’Brien, Matthew Devine, Hugh Gavin, Seán Naughton.