Connacht Kick Off Against Ospreys

Date Published: 05-Sep-2008

CONNACHT’S record of never having lost an opening day fixture in the Magners League looks set to be tested to the limit tonight when a star-studded Ospreys side become the first visitors of the 2008/09 campaign to the Sportsground (6.30pm).

The Westerners have won all seven opening day fixtures since the foundation of the League, but their new-look side can expect a tough test against a team which features a host of Welsh internationals.

The game marks the 100th Connacht cap of new captain John Muldoon, as the 25-year old Portumna native is set to become the 11th player to reach that milestone when he leads out the team for his first competitive game in charge. It’s also a milestone for Brett Wilkinson, who is set to make his 50th appearance for the side.

This will also be the first chance for home fans to check out the credentials of the new partnership of scrum-half Frank Murphy and out-half Ian Keatley, who joined the Sportsground outfit during the summer.

The starting line-up features just one change from the side which overcame the Queensland Reds on a 24-12 scoreline last week, with John Hearty making…