Elwood eyes improved defensive performance against Saracens

ERIC ELWOOD will have a final chance to see some of the new signings in action before the real work begins as his Connacht side take on Saracens tomorrow at the Sportsground, Galway (6.30pm).

The game will be the last test for Elwood’s men before the start of the Magners League on Saturday September 4 when Connacht welcome the Dragons to the Sportsground.

Elwood said: “We’re looking for a huge improvement on the defensive side of things. It (last Friday) was our first game and we were a little bit rusty, it will be a huge challenge to take on Saracens who have three or four games under their belts at this stage but that’s the challenge we want to test ourselves against and I’ve no doubt the lads will step up to the mark on Saturday”

The 28-man squad sees a number of changes with Johnny O’Connor being replaced as captain by Frank Murphy. O’Connor was stretchered off after just 15 minutes of last week’s game against Harlequins with a hip injury but the 30 year old flanker, who made his international debut against South Africa in 2004, is set to make a good recovery and hopes to be back in action for the start of the Magners League in two weeks time.

CONNACHT: R Loughney, A Flavin, J Hagan, M Swift, B Upton, A Browne, R Ofisa, E Taylor, F Murphy, M Nikora, F Carr, E Griffin, N Ta’auso, T Nathan, T O’Halloran.

Replacements: D Murphy, R Sweeney, B Wilkinson, D Nolan, D Buckley, M McComish, S Conneely, C Willis, I Keatley, S Monahan, D Fanning, A Kennedy, A Wynne.