Henshaw returns at full back for Connacht’s home tie with Italian minnows

IRISH international Robbie Henshaw will return to the green of Connacht against Benetton Treviso in the province’s Guinness Pro12 fixture at the Sportsground this evening (7:30pm) – not though as a centre but in the full back role.

Although Henshaw’s Ireland career so far has been at outside centre, it was in the No. 15 shirt he started off his rugby adventure many years ago. Indeed, with the World Cup over, Henshaw is somewhat freed up to be utilised by Connacht coach Pat Lam in whatever capacity he sees fit.

With Tiernan O’Halloran – man of the match at full-back in last weekend’s victory over Edinburgh – equally as comfortable on the wing, this evening’s game against a winless Treviso outfit does afford Lam the opportunity to have a look at the versatility of Henshaw’s game.

It will be 22-year-old Henshaw’s first appearance for Connacht since the Rugby World Cup and he is one of six personnel changes to the side which accounted for Edinburgh on a scoreline of 14-9 last Saturday.

O’Halloran shifts to the right wing in a slightly changed back line that also sees scrum half John Cooney come in for his second start of the season.

In the pack, Dave Heffernan and Ireland international Nathan White are introduced to the front row, while Ultan Dillane comes in to partner Andrew Browne, playing his 100th PRO12 game, in the second row.

Galway man Eoin McKeon returns to the back row to link up with captain John Muldoon and the season’s top try scorer Nepia Fox-Matamua.

From the bench, USA international out-half AJ MacGinty could make his first appearance in a Connacht jersey, after the Dubliner joined the province last month.

Speaking ahead of this evening’s game, Lam said: “We’ve made a few changes this week, with Robbie and Nathan back for us but also some guys returning from injury. This is only game four of the 16-game run so it’s a long way to go and we’re going to need players feeling as fresh as possible each week.

“Robbie will start in the 15 shirt for us where he has a lot of experience from his earlier days at Connacht. Obviously, Tiernan has done a great job for us at full-back since the start of the season but his move to wing for this game means we can keep that continuity in our centre partnership for this week.”

For Treviso’s part, they have yet to win a game in the competition this season. They took a heavy  beating against Leinster – 27-3 –  last weekend but have submitted more competitive performances against the Dragons away (19-12) and at home to the Ospreys (22-25).

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.