Sale Sharks vs Connacht: AJ MacGinty returns to face his former side in Heineken Challenge Cup quarter-final

Fly-half returns as Sam James moves to centre to cover the injured James O’Connor while Connacht have Bundee Aki back for their fifth attempt to reach the Challenge Cup semi-finals

Thursday 28 March 2019 16:28 GMT
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AJ MacGinty returns to the Sale starting line-up to take on Connacht on Friday
AJ MacGinty returns to the Sale starting line-up to take on Connacht on Friday (Getty)

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Connacht will hope to make fifth time lucky when they tackle European Challenge Cup quarter-final opponents Sale Sharks on Friday.

The Irish side have lost all four of their previous Challenge Cup last-eight clashes against English opposition.

But they will head to the AJ Bell Stadium buoyed by Ireland centre Bundee Aki making his return after the Six Nations, while Jack Carty and Kieran Marmion forge Connacht's half-back combination.

Connacht head coach Andy Friend said: "We said at the start of the season that we wanted to be in the business end of both the Challenge Cup and the Pro14 competitions.

"We face a tough challenge away to Sale, but this is knockout rugby and we have picked a side to go and win the game.

"I am happy with how the squad has been performing over the past few weeks.

"We are seeing strong competition for places, there is a real intensity to our training and we are seeing that in our performances on the pitch.

"We have played Sale twice this season, with both teams winning a game apiece, so I expect Friday night to be another tight affair."

Twice Challenge Cup winners Sale are bolstered by a return to action for fly-half AJ MacGinty, who starts against his former team.

Sam James moves to centre, replacing an injured James O'Connor, with Josh Beaumont starting at number eight in a back-row that also features Jono Ross and Tom Curry.

The Challenge Cup quarter-finals continue on Saturday when Worcester host Harlequins, while Sunday's action sees Bristol travel to La Rochelle and Northampton visit Clermont Auvergne.

PA

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