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18:45 GMT, 19:45 local
European Challenge Cup Semi final
A packed Sportsground in Galway will welcome glitzy Toulon on Friday night as Connacht look to upset the formbook and clinch a fairytale place in the European Challenge Cup final.
Michael Bradley's gutsy side have scrapped and cajoled their way to the last four, beating Montpellier and Worcester home and away in the group stages before seeing off Bourgoin in the quarter finals. The game is a perfect rendering of the differences between rugby's haves and have-nots, with Toulon's expensive squad set to meet plenty of resistance from the home side, a mix of youngsters and grizzled old heads. WATCH LIVE HERE
Toulon are in fine fettle heading into the game, having secured a bye into the Top 14 semi-finals by finishing second in the league. The prospect of silverware will excite coach Philippe Saint-Andre as well as charismatic owner Mourad Boudjellal and Saint-Andre has taken no chances with his team selection, naming Jonny Wilkinson at fly-half and also Joe van Niekerk and Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe in a combative back-row.
With calls for him to be given a shot an Ireland jersey still fresh, this is a fine opportunity for Connacht back-row and skipper John Muldoon to show his worth against two of the best in the business. Muldoon will be backed up by powerful No.8 George Naoupu and ex-Ireland openside Jonny O'Connor.
Bradley rested the vast majority of his matchday squad for last weekend's Magners League meeting with the Scarlets, seeing his makeshift side concede a half-century of points in Llanelli. With that defeat and Ulster's win away at Edinburgh, their hopes of attaining a Heineken Cup place through the league evaporated. As it stands, they must win the Challenge Cup or hope that either Munster or Leinster win the Heineken Cup if they are to proceed to the top table next season. WATCH LIVE
The game will be a dogfight among the forwards and the halfbacks will have to be on their game. Connacht's underrated duo of Ian Keatley and Frank Murphy have a chance for a scalp against Wilkinson and European specialist Matt Henjak, who will skipper the visitors. Former Newcastle centre Tom May starts in midfield alongside Mafileo Kefu, with Sonny Bill Williams forced to make do with a place on the bench.
Bradley was in no mood to take a backward step this week and challenged Toulon's stars to step up in the fiery surroundings of the Sportsground.
"Toulon embarked on a strategy which has got them to the top of the Top 14 and they have quality throughout their squad," he said. "They are a colourful side with big names and big stars with the likes of Jonny Wilkinson and Felipe Contepomi to pick and choose from.
"But they have to come to Galway and we have the x-factor in terms of our ground. We have a home draw and, while they will bring the stars, we'll bring our support and we'll see who comes out on top. We went through the Pool stages of the Challenge Cup unbeaten and we were able to carry that form through into the Bourgoin game."
Connacht: G Duffy, T Nathan, N Ta'auso, A Wynne, F Carr, I Keatley, F Murphy, B Wilkinson, S Cronin, J Hagan, M Swift, M McCarthy, J Muldoon (capt), J O'Connor, G Naoupu
Replacements: A Flavin, R Loughney, B Upton, M McComish, C O'Loughlin, M Nikora, B Tuohy, R Morris
Toulon: L Rooney, G Lovobalavu, M Kefu, T May, C Marienval, J Wilkinson, M Henjak (capt), S Taumoepeau, P Fitzgerald, T Leaaetoa, J Suta, E Lozada, J van Niekerk, T Sourice, J Fernandez Lobbe
Replacements: S Bruno, B Basteres, T Ryan, K Chesney, O Missoup, J Sinzelle, P Mignoni, SB Williams
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
