Two of the early Guinness PRO14 pace-setters face-off in Galway on Friday night, with defending champions Leinster vying to extend their 100 per cent start to the campaign at Irish rivals Connacht. Leo Cullen’s men have picked up where they left off last season – dropping just one bonus point so far – but line-up for their biggest test yet aiming to claim their sixth win in seven against the 2015⁄16 title winners. The hosts are on a winning run of their own however – having won each of their four matches since defeat to Scarlets on the opening weekend – and will be looking to prove they are among the league’s biggest-hitters with a victory. Connacht fly-half Jack Carty lines up for his first game since Ireland’s win over Russia at the Rugby World Cup, while international teammate Bundee Aki is named among the replacements. Six members of Ireland’s World Cup squad return for Leinster, with Robbie Henshaw, Luke McGrath, Cian Healy, Andrew Porter, Rhys Ruddock and Rob Kearney all part of the matchday squad. Kick-off: At The Sportsground, Galway | KO 19:35, Friday 8 November How to watch: Live on eir Sport 1, Premier Sport 2, TG4, DAZN, PRO14.tv Players to watch out for: Niyi Adeolokun (Connacht), James Lowe (Leinster) One of the key components in Connacht’s blistering charge up the Conference B table has been winger Niyi Adeolokun, and he will be hoping to continue his recently prolific form in this encounter. The 29-year-old notched his second score of the season with a fine kick-and-chase effort at Ospreys last time out and Leinster will be no doubt aware of the threats he poses to their defence. On the away wing lines up James Lowe, who similarly has two scores for the campaign following his brace in Leinster’s emphatic 50-15 win over Dragons last time out. With both sides having conceded the least points in their respective conferences, the ability of either winger to unlock their opposition’s backline could prove crucial to their side’s fortunes. Key stat: Leinster haven’t won their opening six matches of a new campaign since the inaugural year of the Championship in 2001⁄02. Connacht: Darragh Leader, Niyi Adeolokun, Tom Farrell, Peter Robb, Stephen Fitzgerald, Jack Carty, Caolin Blade, Denis Buckley, Tom McCartney, Finlay Bealham, Cillian Gallagher, Joe Maksymiw, Eoghan Masterson, Jarrad Butler, Paul Boyle Replacements: Dave Heffernan, Matthew Burke, Dominic Robertson-McCoy, Sean O’Brien, Colby Fainga’a, Kieran Marmion, Bundee Aki, Kyle Godwin Leinster: Hugo Keenan, Adam Byrne, Robbie Henshaw, Joe Tomane, James Lowe, Ross Byrne, Luke McGrath, Cian Healy, Rónan Kelleher, Andrew Porter, Devin Toner, Scott Fardy, Josh Murphy, Will Connors, Max Deegan Replacements: James Tracy, Ed Byrne, Michael Bent, Ross Molony, Rhys Ruddock, Jamison Gibson-Park, Ciarán Frawley, Rob Kearney Cardiff City Stadium will play host to the 2020 Guinness PRO14 Final on June 20 as one of the most exciting days in the club rugby calendar comes to Wales! General sale tickets are available from http://bit.ly/PRO14Cardiff2020 and prices start at just £13 for concessions and £26 for adults (subject to booking fees), that’s a 15% early bird discount. Family ticket (2 adults / 2 children) prices begin at £64 and fans are encouraged to buy early to get the best value tickets.
