It's showtime in Galway as Connacht gears up to unleash their Lions trio against the formidable Bulls this Friday. Centre Bundee Aki, alongside winger Mack Hansen and prop Finlay Bealham, are tipped to make their season debut. The trio, all British & Irish Lions, are returning to the fold in hopes of propelling Connacht past their recent stumble against Cardiff.
After a promising start that saw them clinch a bonus-point victory over Benetton, Connacht's rhythm hit a snag following a postponed match against the Scarlets and a subsequent 14-8 defeat to Cardiff. Assistant coach John Tucker shared his excitement about the upcoming challenge.
"They have a lot of strengths, as we know – a lot of international quality. They’ve got game-breakers in the backfield and out wide. They’ve got a lot of power up front. They play a very physical, aggressive brand of rugby,"
Tucker explained.
The Bulls, under the guidance of coach Ackermann, have had a rollercoaster start themselves. Victories at home against Ospreys and Leinster were followed by a tough loss to Ulster in Belfast. Tucker sees this as a golden chance for Connacht to exploit.
"We’ve shown through pre-season we can handle physical sides. It’s about going back to how we want to play the game and playing to our strengths. We’ve plenty of energy and plenty of physicality in our pack, and plenty of pace in our backline as well,"
he detailed.
Tucker is keen on converting the Bulls’ physicality into an opportunity for Connacht, emphasizing the need to play their own game and exploit the visitors' weaknesses. With stars like Aki, Hansen, and Bealham back in action, the squad feels bolstered and ready to dictate the pace of the game.
Tickets for Saturday's clash remain up for grabs, promising fans a thrilling encounter as Connacht looks to assert dominance at their home ground with their star-studded lineup ready to shine.
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It's showtime in Galway as Connacht gears up to unleash their Lions trio against the formidable Bulls this Friday. Centre Bundee Aki, alongside winger Mack Hansen and prop Finlay Bealham, are tipped to make their season debut. The trio, all British & Irish Lions, are returning to the fold in hopes of propelling Connacht past their recent stumble against Cardiff.
After a promising start that saw them clinch a bonus-point victory over Benetton, Connacht's rhythm hit a snag following a postponed match against the Scarlets and a subsequent 14-8 defeat to Cardiff. Assistant coach John Tucker shared his excitement about the upcoming challenge.
"They have a lot of strengths, as we know – a lot of international quality. They’ve got game-breakers in the backfield and out wide. They’ve got a lot of power up front. They play a very physical, aggressive brand of rugby,"
Tucker explained.The Bulls, under the guidance of coach Ackermann, have had a rollercoaster start themselves. Victories at home against Ospreys and Leinster were followed by a tough loss to Ulster in Belfast. Tucker sees this as a golden chance for Connacht to exploit.
"We’ve shown through pre-season we can handle physical sides. It’s about going back to how we want to play the game and playing to our strengths. We’ve plenty of energy and plenty of physicality in our pack, and plenty of pace in our backline as well,"
he detailed.Tucker is keen on converting the Bulls’ physicality into an opportunity for Connacht, emphasizing the need to play their own game and exploit the visitors' weaknesses. With stars like Aki, Hansen, and Bealham back in action, the squad feels bolstered and ready to dictate the pace of the game.
Tickets for Saturday's clash remain up for grabs, promising fans a thrilling encounter as Connacht looks to assert dominance at their home ground with their star-studded lineup ready to shine.
Teams: Connacht, Bulls