European Challenge Cup Pool 2

Connacht coach Pat Lam is taking nothing for granted after victory over Munster, naming virtually an unchanged side for tonight’s visit of Edinburgh to the Galway Sportsground (7.35pm).

Connacht 24 Munster 16

Bayonne 27 Connacht 29

Connacht head to Bayonne for tonight’s return leg (Stade Jean-Dauger, 7.45pm) of the back-to-back Challenge Cup fixtures with a new starting side featuring five debutants.

European Challenge Cup Pool 2: Connacht 42 Bayonne 19

GUINNESS PRO12:

Connacht’s first All Black, Mils Muliaina, makes his debut for the province tonight when Connacht host Zebre at the Galway Sportsground (7.35pm).

Rodney Ah You takes over injured Nathan White’s tighthead prop spot, having been released from the Ireland camp at Carton House, for Connacht’s Guinness Pro12 fixture with leaders Ospreys in Swansea this evening (7.35pm).

Connacht Rugby 48 La Rochelle 12

Connacht Rugby 48 La Rochelle 12

Treviso 6 Connacht 9

Connacht’s seasonal ambitions could well come down to games such as this evening’s in Italy at Stadio Monigo (7pm, Irish time).

Guinness Pro12:

Three weeks into the season and the Guinness PRO12 has finally thrown the floating voter a bone they can get their teeth into in the form of tonight’s meeting of Connacht and Leinster at Galway’s Sportsground (KO: 7.35pm).

The return of Ireland international Robbie Henshaw is one of three changes to Connacht’s starting XV for this evening’s Guinness Pro 12 fixture with Edinburgh at Murrayfield (7.35pm).

Connacht 16 Newport 11

Ospreys 45 Connacht 20

There is considerably more positivity surrounding the future of Connacht Rugby this week with the signature of their first All Black and the appointment of new chief executive Willie Ruane, but it may not translate into a much-needed win when they face a wounded Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium this evening (6.30pm).

Ulster 58 Connact 12

Scarlets 32 Connacht 30

RABO DIRECT PRO12:

Dragons 8 Connacht 24

RABO DIRECT PRO12:

Connacht 38 Treviso 6

Connacht 11 Edinburgh 7

Connacht 9 Toulouse 37

Zebre 6 Connacht 33

One of the strengths of Munster rugby over the year has been the ideology that opponents must be respected at all costs, not necessarily feared but at least respected.

Having seen his team win their last three league encounters, Connacht head coach Eric Elwood has kept changes to a minimum for tomorrow night’s RaboDirect PRO12 meeting with Munster at Musgrave Park (5.45pm).

The French media is no wiser than the Irish about where Jonathan Sexton will be playing next season with Racing Metro president Jacky Lorenzetti denying a deal had been done.

The race may be on to challenge Jonathan Sexton and Ronan O’Gara for the Ireland No 10 shirt, but versatility is the name of the game for two of the three contenders included yesterday in the Irish Wolfhounds squad for the clash with the English Saxons in Galway on Friday.

Connacht 25 Zebre 20

Failure to manage a bonus point in last weekend’s loss to Harlequins has made it mathematically impossible to catch pool runners-up Biarritz, but pride and a third Heineken Cup win are at stake for Connacht this evening.

Flyhalf Dan Parks returns to the Connacht starting XV for their final Heineken Cup Pool 3 encounter with Zebre at the Sportsground tomorrow night (8pm).

Harlequins 47 Connacht 8

With Dan Parks unavailable through injury Eric Elwood has selected 22-year-old Matthew Jarvis at flyhalf for Saturday's Heineken Cup round 5 game against Harlequins at the Stoop (1.35pm).

Connacht 30 Newport Gwent Dragons 11

Billed as a must-win for both sides, Connacht return to the Galway Sportsground for this evening’s RaboDirect Pro 12 joust with the Newport Gwent Dragons.

Leinster 17 Connacht 0

23-year-old Connacht winger Matt Healy will earn his first cap for the province when he lines out in tomorrow’s RaboDirect PRO12 match against Leinster in the RDS (7.45pm).

Munster’s bid to close the gap on RaboDirect Pro12 leaders Ulster tomorrow at Thomond Park (5.30pm) may be enhanced by the return of an Ireland Test trio but Rob Penney is under no illusions about the size of the task.

Connacht 12 Munster 16

Rob Penney might think it strange to be still working his rugby brain in the build up to a day when Santa Claus and kids are king, but he knows he better get used to it.