Lancaster names first team as Connacht coach
Sean Naughton has been handed his first Connacht start at full-back in what will be his URC debut
- Published
Stuart Lancaster has named his first Connacht side in the United Rugby Championship (URC) as they get ready to host Benetton Rugby at Dexcom Stadium on Saturday (19:45 BST).
Lancaster is without his British and Irish Lions for the opening rounds, while summer signing Sam Gilbert is also not involved in the 23.
Academy back Sean Naughton has been handed his first start in what will also be his first taste of URC action, while Fiachna Barrett is in line to join the Galway man off the bench.
Naughton is named at full-back with Chay Mullins and Irish international Shayne Bolton on the wings, while Cathal Forde and Byron Ralston will start as the centre partnership.
The half-back partnership will see experienced scrum-half Caolan Blade joined by out-half Josh Ione.
Paul Boyle will captain the side on his 117th appearance at blind-side flanker in a back row that also features Shamus Hurley-Langton and number eight Sean Jansen.
In the front row, Dylan Tierney-Martin will start as hooker, joined on either side by props Peter Dooley and Sam Illo, while Niall Murray and Josh Murphy are named in the second row.
Connacht: Naughton; Mullins, Ralston, Forde, Bolton; Ioane, Blade; Dooley, Tierney-Martin, Illo; Murray, Murphy; Boyle (capt), Hurley-Langton (56), Jansen (26)
Replacements: Heffernan, Duggan, Barrett, O'Connor, Joyce, Murphy, Carty, Prendergast