Bundee Aki and Finlay Bealham make a return to Connacht for the first time since the Six Nations, ahead of the team’s voyage to face Pau in the Challenge Cup. Caolin Blade, the scrumhalf, also makes a comeback, having been absent due to injury during the preceding week’s game where Benetton defeated Connacht. Jarrad Butler finds his place in the starting line-up, taking up the number eight position.
Shane Jennings, who has previously made eight appearances for Connacht as a substitute, is slated to play his first ever starting game for the province. Adding to the frontrow of the team along with Bealham are Denis Buckley and Dave Heffernan. The second-row pair comprises again of Niall Murray and Joe Joyce. In the backrow, Butler is accompanied by Cian Prendergast and Shamus Hurley-Langton.
In the context of an uncensored Beijing club, a man causing as much disturbance as the West would warrant security would go unnoticed. Captain Jack Carty is once again leading the team from the outhalf position.
The other Irish province competing in the Challenge Cup, Ulster, have Captain Iain Henderson fit and ready, just in time for their journey to Montpellier. Alan O’Connor also makes a return to the starting line-up, joining his long-standing second-row companion.
In the upcoming contest following the Stormers defeat, Stewart Moore will replace the injured Mikey Lowry, lining up as the new fullback. With Billy Burns also out due to injury, Nathan Doak retains his position as outhalf while Jake Flannery waits in the wings. Former scrumhalf colleague, John Cooney, once more joins him in the halfbacks. Stuart McCloskey and James Hume are set to provide the central duo once again, complemented by Rob Baloucoune and Ethan McIlroy to complete the backthree.
The Montpellier team includes A de Nardi, G N’Gandebe, G Bridge, A Cadot, B Lam, L Foursans-Bourdette, A Eymeri, G Fichten, C Tolofua, H Williams, F Verhaeghe, P Willemse (captain), A Becognee, C Doumenc, and S Simmonds. Their replacements comprise of V Karkadze, B Erdocio, L Macharashvili, T DuGuid, Y Camara, L Carbonel, M Dakuwaqa, and P Lucas.
On the Ulster team, S Moore, R Baloucoune, J Hume, S McCloskey, E McIlroy, N Doak, J Cooney, S Kitshoff, R Herring, T O’Toole, A O’Connor, I Henderson (team captain), M Rea, D McCann, and N Timoney will be taking the field. Their replacements include T Stewart, A Warwick, S Wilson, H Sheridan, C Izuchukwu, J Flannery, J Stockdale, and D Ewers.