Elwood sends young guns to face Samoans

CONNACHT coach Eric Elwood reckons some of the emerging talent in the province will get a glorious chance to prove themselves when Samoa come to Galway next Tuesday.

Yesterday he announced a squad which includes eight players who came through the academy system in Connacht.

These are prop Ronan Loughney, hooker Dermot Murphy, back-rowers Shane Conneely and Eoin McKeon, centres Aidan Wynne and Eoin Griffin, scrum-half Conor O’Loughlin and lock Andrew Browne. “Some of our senior players need a rest but it’s a huge opportunity for some of the younger players to display their skills against international players.

“We’ve played New Zealand, South Africa, Australia and Fiji in the past and Samoa have now moved up the international rankings, it’s an exciting challenge for us,” said Elwood.

However, Samoan natives Ray Ofisa — who could feature for them in the World Cup next year — and Niva Ta’auso will not be available having picked up facial and head injuries in the Magners League game away to Benetton Treviso last week.

CONNACHT: T Nathan; S Monahan, E Griffin, A Wynne, B Tuohy; M Nikora, C Willis; R Loughney, A Flavin, B Fa’amausili; A Browne, B Upton; E McKeon, M McComish, E Taylor.

Replacements: D Murphy, R Sweeney, D Rogers, M McCarthy, S Conneely, C O’Loughlin, D Fanning.