RABODIRECT PRO12: Edinburgh 24 Connacht 32

Veteran lock Michael Swift has recovered from injury to take his place alongside Mike McCarthy in the second row for Connacht’s RaboDirect PRO12 meeting with Edinburgh at Murrayfield tomorrow (7.30pm).

Connacht head coach Eric Elwood has made four personnel and two positional changes to his pack for tomorrow’s RaboDirect PRO12 encounter with Treviso.

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).

Connacht 23 Zebre 19

It is 12 years since Connacht came away from Cardiff Arms Park with a win, and coach Eric Elwood says that needs to change when the sides meet this evening in the RaboDirect Pro12 (7.30pm).

After coming through 65 minutes in last weekend’s victory over Ospreys unscathed Connacht skipper Gavin Duffy will lead the province from the start in tomorrow night’s RaboDirect PRO12 showdown against Cardiff Blues at Arms Park.

RaboDirect PRO12: Scarlets v Connacht

Kyle Tonetti will earn his first start for Connacht this season having been named at inside centre in Eric Elwood’s starting team to face Scarlets in tomorrow night’s RaboDirect PRO12 meeting at Parc Y Scarlets (7.30pm).

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.

Eric Elwood has made two changes to his starting XV after last weekend’s defeat to Leinster.

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.

Connacht Head Coach Eric Elwood has made two changes to his starting XV for Saturday’s meeting with Munster at the Sportsground (5.15pm).

Biarritz Olympique 17 Connacht 0

Connacht are preparing for a massive Biarritz backlash when the two sides clash in Parc des Sports Aguiléra this evening.

Eric Elwood has named a side which shows only one change to the starting XV following last Friday's 22-14 win over Biarritz for the return Heineken Cup Pool 3 fixture at the Parc des Sports Aguilera on Friday (8pm).

A heavy list of injuries and poor weather will not help Connacht’s hopes of claiming a home victory over French heavyweights Biarritz this evening.

Ireland second-row Mike McCarthy makes his return to the Connacht starting XV for the province’s Heineken Cup Pool 3 meeting with Biarritz Olympique Pays Basque at the Sportsground on Friday (8pm).

Connacht 23 Edinburgh 24

Connacht head coach Eric Elwood has made three personnel changes up front for Saturday’s RaboDirect PRO 12 meeting with Edinburgh at the Sportsground (5pm).

Connacht 18 Benetton Treviso 3

Former Stormer Danie Poolman makes a timely first start for Connacht against Italian visitors Benetton Treviso at the Galway Sportsground today (5pm).

Danie Poolman will make his first start for Connacht after being named at outside centre for the RaboDirect PRO12 encounter with Benetton Treviso this Saturday at The Sportsground (5pm).

Connacht’s Eric Elwood is once again putting his faith in youngsters with Ireland U20 player Darragh Leader making his debut tomorrow against the Ospreys in Liberty Stadium (2.30pm).

Darragh Leader, 19, will earn his first competitive start for Connacht in tomorrow afternoon’s meeting with defending RaboDirect PRO12 champions the Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium (2.30pm).

Connacht 22 Harlequins 30

The inclusion of Adrian Flavin at hooker represents the only change for Connacht as they prepare to welcome Harlequins back to the Sportsground for Saturday’s Heineken Cup Round 2 meeting (6pm).

Zebre 10 Connacht 19

Connacht head coach Eric Elwood has made four changes to his pack for his team’s Heineken Cup Round 1 meeting with Zebre at the Stadio XXV Aprile on Saturday (2.35pm).

Eric Elwood has a lot of unfinished business before relinquishing the Connacht coaching job at the end of this season and one item on the wishlist is to help his side to victory at Ravenhill tonight, for the first time in 52 years.

Connacht head coach Eric Elwood has made four changes to his starting XV for Connacht’s second instalment of back-to-back interprovincial ties for as they travel to Ravenhill to take on Ulster on tomorrow (7.05pm).

Tom Denton has never been to the Sportsground before but the second row’s teammates have apparently been filling him in on what to expect tonight at a venue which Leinster have, regardless of the event, rarely found to their liking.

Connacht’s big summer signing Dan Parks will make his debut for the province in Friday night’s RaboDirect PRO12 interprovincial clash with Leinster in the Sportsground (8pm).

Connacht 11 Scarlets 24

Connacht have been forced to make a host of changes, including a new backrow, for today’s visit of the Scarlets to the Galway Sportsground.