Heineken Champions Cup Connacht: Connacht to knockout stages after Cardiff handed Toulouse a walkover win

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Connacht winger John Porch scored the second of the hosts' six tries
Connacht won a six-try, 36-9 victory over Stade Francais at Galway last month
Venue: Stade Jean-Bouin, Paris Date:Sunday, 23 January Kick-off:13:00 GMT
Coverage:Match report at the BBC Sport website

Connacht qualified for the Champions Cup’s knockout stage for the first time since 2003. Cardiff were handed a walkover win over Covid-hit Toulouse.

Connacht was likely to need a losing bonus against Stade Francais, Paris, on Sunday in order to secure their last-16 spot.

Connacht will finish eighth in Pool B because of Toulouse’s misfortune.

Connacht currently rank sixth in the pool standings.

Cardiff’s 28-0 win in Cardiff’s walkover moves them up to eighth in Pool A. Toulouse remains seventh, but they are now in danger of missing out a knockout slot due to Castres or Wasps moving around.

Mack Hansen’s injury-recovery is one of six Connacht adjustments for their final Champions Cup pool match at Stade Jean-Bouin.

Connacht was 18 points behind, but they lost it. edged out by Leicester in Galway a week ago.

Referee Mathieu Raynal responds to Bundee Aki after the Connacht player confronted him after the final whistle in Galway
Connacht and Ireland centre Aki (left), protested Mathieu Raynal, after the French referee awarded Leicester their match-winning goal in Galway’s Champions Cup.

Bundee Aki complained to Mathieu Raynal about Leicester’s last-gasp win. He was given a warning by the competition organizers. He is now not in the Connacht squad, as Sammy Arnold partners Tom Farrell at the centre.

Hansen and Alex Wootton have been drafted into the wing Berths in John Porch’s place and Matt Healy’s, with Caolin Blade taking over as scrum-half from Kieran Marsion.

Greg McGrath, Jordan Duggan, and Finlay Bealham take on the role of Matthew Burke. The Connacht pack is otherwise unchanged.

Charlie Ward and Sam Illo will make Connacht debuts from the bench as props.

Connacht thumped Stade Francais 36-9 in their European openerIn Galway six weeks back, the French club needed a bonus-point win to be in the running for the knockout stage.

Stade is also struggling domestically. They are currently 10th in Top 14 and have lost 8 of 14 games.

Stade Francais: Hamdaoui; Veainu, Laumape, Barre, Lapegue; Sanchez, Percillier; Castets, Latu, P Alo Emile; De Giovanni, Gabrillagues; Francoz, Macalou, Gray (capt).

Replacements: Da Silva, M Alo Emile, Roelofse, Van der Mescht, Kremer, Hall, Segonds, Champ

Connacht: O’Halloran; Wootton, Farrell, Arnold, Hansen; Carty (capt), Blade; Duggan, Delahunt, McGrath; Dowling, Murray; Prendergast, Oliver, Butler

Replacements:Heffernan Ward Illo, Leva Fifita Boyle Reilly Fitzgerald Kilgallen

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