RABO DIRECT PRO12

It does not get any easier for Connacht as the Ospreys, one of only two unbeaten teams this season, are the visitors to the Galway Sportsground for this evening’s Pro 12 fixture.

Connacht 7 Ulster 18

RABO DIRECT PRO12:

Connacht 25 Zebre 16

RABODIRECT PRO12

In a night of farewells, Connacht bring the curtain down on this season’s RaboDirect Pro12 tonight when they entertain semi-finalists Glasgow Warriors at the Sportsground.

Connacht head coach Eric Elwood has made four personnel changes from the team that lost to Ulster last weekend for tomorrow’s RaboDirect PRO12 clash with Treviso at the Sadio di Monigo (8.30pm).

Andrew Trimble knows what to expect when he travels to the Sportsground this evening for the big RaboDirect Pro12 derby battle where there is more than bragging rights up for grabs.

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.

Flanker John Muldoon (pictured) is thrilled to be finally starting his first match tonight for Connacht since October.

Robbie Henshaw returns to provincial duty and is one of three changes Connacht boss Eric Elwood has made to his starting XV for tomorrow night’s clash with the Ospreys at the Sportsground (7.45pm).

RaboDirect PRO12: Scarlets v Connacht

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).

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.

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 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).

There’s a positive buzz around Connacht rugby at the moment.

Eric Elwood has made just three changes for Connacht’s final RaboDirect PRO12 game of the season against Glasgow Warriors in Firhill (kick off: 7.30pm).

Undeserving may be, but Connacht’s late steal at the death against Aironi on Saturday provided the Irish province with their first three-in-a-row of victories since 2002.

Connacht are determined to finish their home RaboDirect Pro 12 season on a high when they host Aironi at the Sportsground this evening. Having picked up 15 points in their last six matches, Connacht can post a third successive win and leapfrog Dragons and Treviso.

Connacht grabbed their first interprovincial win over Ulster since 2005, but Brian McLaughlin is not giving up hope just yet for a RaboDirect Pro12 top-four place.

Ulster flanker Willie Faloon has a two-fold goal ahead of today’s RaboDirect Pro 12 derby clash against Connacht at the Sportsground.

George Naoupu returns to a Connacht starting XV that is otherwise unchanged for their RaboDirect PRO12 clash against Ulster in the Sportsground on Saturday (5.15pm).

Following last weekend’s brave display against play-off hopefuls Munster Head Coach Eric Elwood has opted to make just one change to his starting XV for their RaboDirect PRO12 clash with the Dragons at Rodney Parade tomorrow (7.15pm).

Connacht captain Gavin Duffy says tonight’s RaboDirect Pro12 home game against Munster has kept his side fully focused and motivated during the Six Nations-enforced lull in provincial action.

Connacht head coach Eric Elwood is able to call on lock Mike McCarthy and prop Brett Wilkinson, who have been involved with the Irish Six Nations team, for Saturday’s RaboDirect PRO12 meeting with Munster in the Sportsground (7.45pm).

Connacht Academy prop Denis Buckley will make his first competitive start for the province when they face Edinburgh at the Sportsground tomorrow night (7.30pm).

It was anything but pretty at the Galway Sportsground but there was immense relief for the 4,189 home supporters when Connacht scraped a late draw on Saturday night.

Connacht will view this evening’s Pro12 fixture against Glasgow Warriors at the Galway Sportsground (5.30pm) as a must-win if they want to improve on last season’s league finish.

Head Coach Eric Elwood has made just two changes to last week's starting XV for Connacht’s RaboDirect PRO12 clash with the Glasgow Warriors at the Sportsground on Saturday (5.30pm).