Farley, Wilkinson and Flavin drafted into Connacht team

CONNACHT coach Michael Bradley has made three changes to the team which played Ospreys two weeks ago for tonight’s Magners League clash with Border Reivers at Galway Sportsground (6.30).

Andrew Farley, who has recovered from injury, takes over from Ryan Strudwick in the second row, Brett Wilkinson replaces Ray Hogan in the front row, and Adrian Flavin is named at hooker in place of the injured John Fogarty.

Mark McHugh captains the side for the sixth time this season in an unchanged backline.

The Reviers will be captained by former Scotland out-half Gregor Townsend.

With Chris Cusiter on international team training duty and Calum MacRae nursing the foot injury he suffered playing for the Scotland A team in their 13-7 win over Italy A last weekend, Scotland’s most experienced playmaker, Townsend, takes over as captain.

“This weekend is another big test for us but the mood in the camp is high,” said Reivers’ head coach Steve Bates.

“Connacht at home are a very good outfit and we are all really looking forward to the challenge.”

Bates welcomes back internationals Ross Ford, Bruce Douglas and Opeta Palepoi. As a result, he has made three positional changes. Scotland A prop Ed Kalman moves to loosehead, John Dalziel switches to the right of the scrum in the second row and Scotland Sevens captain Scott Forrest pulls on the No 8 jersey.

On the bench, further international Sevens experience is featured with former Scotland Sevens captain Mark Lee, who has been released on permit from Heriot’s. Lee could make his Magners League debut alongside Hawick prop Bruce McNeil.

CONNACHT: D Slemen; D Yapp, J Hearty, M McHugh (C), D Riordan; P Warwick, C O’Loughlin; B Wilkinson, A Flavin, S Knoop; D Gannon, A Farley; J Muldoon, R Ofisa, C Rigney .

Replacements: C Muldoon, R Hogan, M Swift, M Lacey, C Keane, P Durcan, G Williams.

* Not considered due to injury: John Fogarty (hamstring), Ronan Loughney (knee), Joe Merrigan (leg), Keith Matthews (knee), Conor McPhillips (groin), Matt Mostyn (knee), Brendan O’Connor (arm), Tom Tierney (ankle).

BORDER REIVERS: S. Moffat, D. Flockhart, B. MacDougall, N. De Luca, G. Law, G. Townsend (captain), R. Chrystie, E. Kalman, R. Ford, B Douglas, O. Palepoi, J. Dalziel, S. Newlands, S. Forrest, A. Miller.

Replacements: S Scott, B. McNeil, M. Lee, R. Vernon, C. Cusiter, S. Jones, B Rennie.