Connacht are expected to welcome the return of their World Cup players Jack Carty and Bundee Aki for Friday evening’s first interprovincial of the season against Leinster at the Galway Sportsground (7.35pm, TG4, Eir Sport). Carty is expected to take over the No 10 jersey, giving 22-year-old Conor Fitzgerald a welcome rest after the opening five matches. O’Brien, along with injured fullback Tiernan O’Halloran and centre Tom Farrell, have agreed contract extensions at the province, which Friend says is a great “accolade for Connacht”. “They are players who would have attracted attention from other areas, so what’s pleasing for Connacht is they wanted to stay here,” he says. If you are a 60-minute team or 70-minute team, Leinster will beat you.”

Source: The Irish Times November 05, 2019 16:09 UTC