Connacht and Glasgow both have a point to prove this season as they start their Guinness PRO14 campaigns on Saturday night at the Sportsground in Ireland. New Warriors boss Dave Rennie will be hoping to reverse last season’s form that saw the Scottish club finish outside of the end-of-season play-offs in sixth position. While last season’s champions, Connacht, will be looking to improve on their eighth-place finish last time out and demonstrate there is life after the departure of boss Pat Lam to Bristol in the summer. What’s at stake: Glasgow boss Rennie has told his players a fast start to the new season is imperative and has called for more of the same that saw his men produce a solid 23-40 pre-season away win at the Dragons. Glasgow have had some epic encounters with Connacht in recent seasons, especially two years ago, when the Irishmen won the league title after beating Glasgow in back-to-back games in Galway. Team news (Connacht): Connacht have handed a competitive debut to new signing Jarrad Butler who starts at flanker, while Bundee Aki returns to the side in a midfield partnership with Eoin Griffin. Scrum-half Kieran Marmion renews his half-back pairing with Jack Carty. The team is strengthened by the inclusion of four Irish internationals with Denis Buckley, Finlay Bealham and Ultan Dillane starting in the front five. John Muldoon captains the side at number eight in his 15th season with his native province. Team news (Glasgow): Young second row Scott Cummings, who scored a try in Wales last week, starts in place of Jonny Gray, while there is also a debut for hooker George Turner. There rare appearances at loosehead prop for Jamie Bhatti and openside for the promising Matt Smith. There is also a debut for former Chiefs wing Lelia Masaga, who impressed on his debut against the Dragons. Talking points: It’s the battle of the new boys in Ireland on Saturday night, with Kieran Keane taking charge of his first game for Connacht in the Guinness PRO14, while Rennie is in the hotseat for Glasgow. Both coaches will be desperate to get off to a fast start and prove they are the right men for the top job and deliver a much-coveted top-four finish this season. Key battle: Centre Alex Dunbar makes his 100th Glasgow appearance against Connacht and his middle match up with Bundee Aki and Eoin Griffin will prove crucial to the outcome of the game. With a whole host of Scotland internationalists such as Jonny Gray, Stuart Hogg, Tommy Seymour, Finn Russell, Fraser Brown, Rob Harley and Alex Allan still absent for Glasgow, Dunbar’s big-game experience will prove crucial in Ireland. Key stat: Last time out in Scotland, Glasgow got the better of Connacht back in March and claimed maximum points as they won 35-24. It wasn’t enough to catapult Glasgow towards a top-four spot at the end of the season but Rennie will know the significance of getting an early away-day win at the 2016 PRO12 champions. Connacht: D Leader, C Kelleher, E Griffin, B Aki, M Healy, J Carty, K Marmion, D Buckley, T McCartney, F Bealham, U Dillane, J Cannon, E Masterson, J Butler, J Muldoon. Replacements: Shane Delahunt, Peter McCabe, Conor Carey, Sean O’Brien, Eoin McKeon, Conor McKeon, Craig Ronaldson, Tom Farrell. Glasgow Warriors: R Jackson, L Masaga, A Dunbar, S Johnson, L Jones, P Horne, A Price; J Bhatti, G Turner, Z Fagerson, T Swinson, S Cummings, R Wilson (capt), M Smith, A Ashe. Replacements: J Malcolm, O Kebble, A Nicol, G Peterson, M Fagerson, H Pyrgos, A Hastings, L Sarto. Referee: Ben Whitehouse (IRFU) AR1: Dan Jones (WRU). AR2: Stuart Gaffikin (IRFU) TMO: Peter Fitzgibbon (IRFU) TV: Sky Sports Action: 5.15pm Guinness PRO14 Final 2018 Ticket Information: Fans can save up to 20% on selected tickets, and prices start at just €30 for adults and €5 for children, and be booked via www.ticketmaster.ie
