Cara Cup Preview – Connacht vs Ulster

The Cara Cup Series returns to Union Point Sports Complex on Wednesday evening when the Connacht Eagles take on Ulster ‘A’ in an inter-provincial contest. This will be Connacht’s last match in the series, having beaten the New England Free Jacks in the opener on Saturday.

There are eight changes in the Eagles side split evenly between the backs and forwards. Ireland u20 graduates Jordan Duggan and Peter Claffey come in at loosehead prop and second row respectively, with a pair of senior Connacht squad members named in the back row. James Connolly is at openside flank with Ireland international Robin Copeland at No8.

Former England u20 scrumhalf James Mitchell partners with Ireland u20 flyhalf Conor Dean. Mark Balaski drops out with Conor Hayes named on the left wing, and highly-rated midfield prospect Corey Reid starts at outside center. A short bench is named with only five fit front row players available.

Ulster have no shortage of age-grade reps in their side with six forwards boasting Ireland u20 honors. The only exceptions are tighthead prop Ross Kane and blindside flanker Caleb Montgomery, both of whom are on senior contracts at the province.

Johnny McPhillips headlines the backs, the flyhalf already experienced at Guinness Pro 14 and Champions Cup level. Top academy prospects Jack Owens and Iwan Hughes add pace in the outside backs with 19-year-old Stewart Moore one to watch a outside center.

Kickoff is set for 7pm local time, 11pm GMT. A local broadcast will be available on NESN, with live streams for those elsewhere on the Free Jacks Twitch and YouTube accounts.

CONNACHT EAGLES
1 Jordan Duggan, 2 Jonny Murphy, 3 Conor Kenny, 4 Peter Claffey, 5 Joe Maksymiw (capt.), 6 Sean Masterson, 7 James Connolly, 8 Robin Copeland, 9 James Mitchell, 10 Conor Dean, 11 Conor Hayes, 12 Sean O’Brien, 13 Corey Reid, 14 Hugh Lane, 15 Colm de Buitlear

Replacements: 16 Declan Adamson, 17 Conan O’Donnell, 18 Neal Moylett, 19 Cian Huxford, 20 Stephen Kerins, 21 Luke Carty, 22 Oran McNulty

ULSTER ‘A’
1 Peter Cooper, 2 Zack McCall, 3 Ross Kane, 4 JJ McKee, 5 Jack Regan, 6 Caleb Montgomery, 7 Marcus Rea (capt), 8 Joe Dunleavy, 9 Michael Stronge, 10 Johnny McPhillips, 11 Jack Owens, 12 Ben Power, 13 Stewart Moore, 14 Graham Curtis, 15 Iwan Hughes

Replacements: 16 Claytan Milligan, 17 Callum Reid, 18 Corrie Barrett, 19 Bradley Luney, 20 David McCann, 21 Charlie Clarke, 22 Lewis Finlay, 23 Bruce Houston, 24 Ben McCaughey

Date: Wednesday, March 20
Venue: Union Point Sports Complex, Weymouth
Kickoff: 19:00 local (16:00 Pacific, 23:00 GMT)
Broadcasts: NESN, Twitch, YouTube