David Hawkshaw happy to fight with ‘unbelievable competition’ for spot in Connacht’s first-choice team
Opportunity: David Hawkshaw will line up for Connacht against Cardiff. Photo: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Former Ireland U-20 captain David Hawkshaw knows he needs to make the most of every opportunity as he starts only his third game for Connacht this season when they take on Cardiff.
The versatile former Dublin minor hurler is finding all his positions crowded in his second season in Galway and he hopes to make an impact when he plays in the Arms Park for the first time this afternoon.
The 24-year-old, twice a Leinster Senior Cup winner with Belvedere College, started 11 games and came off the bench three times last season in his first campaign since moving to Galway, chalking up 873 minutes of game-time. He started six games at out-half and five at inside centre.
Equally comfortable at out-half or in either of the centre positions, he has found it more difficult to get opportunities this season, starting just two games at outside centre and coming on in six others for a total game-time of 368 minutes.
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The arrival this season of JJ Hanrahan has seen the former Munster player and captain Jack Carty dominate the No 10 shirt, while a crowded midfield includes Bundee Aki, Cathal Forde, Tom Daly, Tom Farrell and Byron Ralston.
“The competition is unbelievable between everyone and we are all kind of learning off each other and seem to be getting the best out of each other as well,” said Hawkshaw.
“Hopefully that continues, that we are all pushing each other as much as we can coming into the latter part of the season.
“We all have a really good relationship off the pitch as well, that we are able to push each other but also able to ask each other questions, and whoever is lucky to get the jersey on game-week is trying to put their best foot forward.
“It’s mad that there are so many top players in that position you are constantly fighting with, but it’s a great thing as well.
“I played a lot of my career at 10, then I moved out to 12 and played a bit of 13.
“I haven’t played that much at 10 recently but I’m enjoying it in the centre,” added Hawkshaw, a Leinster minor hurling winner with Dublin in 2016 and who skippered the Irish U-20s in 2019.
Hawkshaw played 80 minutes against Bristol Bears last time out and he will be partnered by Forde this time, with the promising centre returning from injury to take over at inside centre from Aki.
That’s one of four changes with hooker Dave Heffernan, tighthead Jack Aungier and flanker Conor Oliver also coming back into the team in place of Tadhg McElroy, Finlay Bealham and Jarrad Butler in a side which will be skippered by scrum-half Caolin Blade. Carty is on the bench and Hanrahan starts at out-half.
Verdict: Connacht
Cardiff: J Beetham; O Lane, R Lee-Lo, B Thomas, A Summershill; T de Beer, E Bevan; R Carre, L Belcher (c), W Davies-King; S Lewis-Hughes, S Davies; B Donnell, T Young, L Timani. Reps: E Daniel, R Barratt, C Parker, A Lawrence, M Martin, J Hill, A Robson, W Halaholo.
Connacht: T O’Halloran; S Bolton, D Hawkshaw, C Forde, A Smith; JJ Hanrahan, C Blade; D Buckley, D Heffernan, J Aungier; N Murray, J Joyce; S Hurley-Langton, C Oliver, C Prendergast. Reps: T McElroy, P Dooley, S Illo, O Dowling, J Butler, M McDonald, J Carty, T Farrell.
Cardiff v Connacht Live, RTÉ2/Premier Sports 1, 5.15
